Speaking at the conference " ;20 years of the Czech Republic in the EU: a vision of an enlarged Europe", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that EU membership is a dream that will soon become a reality for Ukraine, the Russian service of the BBC quoted him as saying.
"A Europe in which every nation has the honor to be is truly a dream. A dream that unites us. 20 years ago, this dream became a reality for the Czech Republic. And I am sure that this will soon become a reality for Ukraine," the president said. "And all this is not only about the expansion of the European Union, but about how Europe can preserve itself.
According to Zelensky, "Europe is not something that can be imposed through propaganda or maintained through violence. This is what Moscow refuses to understand and what defines Europe's eastern border.
The President noted that "Europe can only be strong and truly peaceful when no European is left behind in Europe".
"And I am sure that the same conference will be held during our lifetime, but dedicated to 20 years of Ukraine in the European community - 20 years of our full membership in the EU. And as early as June, we can start this way, actually start negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the EU," Zelensky concluded his speech.
Last December, European Council President Charles Michel announced the decision to start EU membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and grant candidate status to Georgia.
Ukraine and Moldova applied to join the EU after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both countries were granted candidate status in June of that year.