President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the importance of the EU's readiness for a political decision to begin negotiations with Ukraine on its membership.

"Ukraine will definitely fulfill its part of the work – the seven recommendations of the European Commission. And it is very important that on the part of the European Union, all its member states, there is a similar readiness for a political decision on Ukraine, on beginning negotiations," he said in a video address on Monday following the meeting in Kyiv of the foreign ministers of the EU member states.

"Today I had the opportunity to talk to all the top EU diplomats at the bilateral level, at the level of the entire community. We had a good discussion on many issues," he said.

Zelenskyy thanked his partners for their support – military, economic, and sanctions. "Today we paid special attention to the issue of sanctions. To Russia's attempts to circumvent sanctions. I believe that every attempt by Russia to break the sanctions regimes and international law requires a strong response from the world," the president said.

"Any criminals – and especially criminals like those in Moscow – understand only the language of force and the inevitability of punishment," he said.

Zelenskyy also thanked "all of Italy and personally Ms. Giorgi Meloni, Mr. Italian Foreign Minister, for the particularly sensitive assistance, in particular, in the restoration in Odesa: "an agreement was signed with Italy to restore Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Odesa, which was destroyed by a Russian missile. Regardless of how much Russia destroys history and culture, Europe is capable of restoring everything. And this is the strength of Europe, our Europe – free and solidary."

The president also thanked Denmark for the decision to open a branch of its embassy in Mykolaiv. "This is an exemplary case of patronage over the reconstruction of the region and an absolutely effective way to implement our agreements with Prime Minister Frederiksen," he said.