Kiev, Feb 23 (EFE) – After receiving the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, in Kiev, the President of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, expects his country to formally begin the process of negotiations for its accession to the European Union (EU) during the next Spanish presidency of the European Council.
“It is very important that President Sanchez talked about it today in depth with President Zelenski, and my president has full hopes that Sanchez shares Ukraine’s ambitions” to achieve this goal, Igor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, told Efe.
Spain will assume the rotating presidency of the European Council in the second half of 2023. During his visit to Kiev today, Sanchez expressed to Zelenski Spain’s support “for Ukraine’s legitimate aspirations to become a full member of the EU”.
Zhovkva added that the Ukrainian presidential administration is “very pleased with President Sanchez’s visit.” “It is very timely because it comes before the Spanish presidency of the EU,” the also chief diplomatic adviser to President Zelenski added.
Starting such accession negotiations, the presidential adviser explained, “is our dream, our ambition and a completely realistic goal if in October we get a positive assessment on the fulfillment of the seven recommendations of the European Commission.”
“It would be historic and a milestone also for Spain if during its EU presidency Ukraine would start accession negotiations,” Zhovkva said about the next goal Kiev has set for itself on its way to join the EU club, which granted it candidate status last June.
The deputy head of the Ukrainian President’s Office explained that the decision on the start of such negotiations could be taken at the European Council to be held in December 2023. EFE
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