FM Sybiha confirms discussions on accelerating Ukraine's accession to EU

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha confirmed that discussions are currently underway regarding accelerated accession to the EU.

"After Munich, after the meetings of the President of Ukraine, all the meetings held by the team, I can confirm to you that such a discussion is ongoing. We have some understanding, but there is also some resistance to such an approach," he said at a press conference with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Kyiv on Monday.

Sybiha also separately noted that "there is a short-sighted position of Hungary, which completely blocks all efforts of the Ukrainian side in this direction."

According to him, Europe is also aware that Ukraine is needed by the European Union.

"Yes, we need to define a time frame, clear terms for Ukraine’s accelerated accession to the EU. Our membership in the EU is for Ukraine, and not only for it, an element of the future security infrastructure, security guarantees, it is a strategic choice of our people," the minister emphasized.

Sybiha stated that Ukraine is actively and successfully moving forward on the path of reforms and noted the need and readiness of Kyiv to comply with the relevant criteria.

"Of course, we must fulfill and also comply with the relevant criteria. By the way, the Council of Europe is also helping us here, and we have also discussed this, namely assistance in achieving the relevant criteria for Ukraine," the minister said.

According to him, the EU understands that "Ukraine will bring a lot of advantages to the European Union." "Therefore, it seems to me that this process is gaining practical dimensions, discussions are ongoing. We had some specific conversations with different visions and different formulas, but, of course, there is still a lot of work ahead," Sybiha emphasized.

Earlier, Western media reported that the European Commission is preparing a plan for Ukraine to join the European Union under a simplified procedure. This involves reviewing the requirements for new countries to join the European Union and creating a two-stage entry system. At the same time, in the case of a simplified procedure, Kyiv will lose some of the rights that full members of the bloc have.