Zelensky calls on the European Union not to delay membership negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his call on Brussels not to delay his country’s accession to the European Union, ahead of the EU Commission’s annual progress report on Kiev’s application for full membership. While Zelensky told the EU “don’t leave us in the gray zone,” he implicitly expressed that they did not want to fall into the situation of Turkey and Serbia, where no progress has been made in the negotiations.

Zelensky asked to speed up Kiev’s membership process in his online meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other members of the EU Commission.

The Ukrainian leader said he hopes the EU Commission will begin full membership negotiations with Kiev before the end of this year.

Zelensky stressed that preparations for the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union this year is one of the country’s most important priorities, and he expressed his hope that the European Union would respond in the same way.

Zelensky stressed that his country continues to work with determination to begin full membership negotiations, and provided examples of the progress that Kiev has achieved so far. “We have done a lot in terms of progress, I would say much more than could be expected from a country that has been the target of major aggression,” the Ukrainian president said. We do not expect any privilege from anyone. “We have shown the necessary political resolve,” he said.

Did he give an example of Türkiye and Serbia?

Some circles linked this statement of Zelensky, who repeatedly demanded that Ukraine not be left in the “gray zone” in his speech, with the situation in Turkey and Serbia, where membership negotiations have begun but no progress has been made.

According to experts, the term gray zone should be viewed as a warning of uncertainty regarding Ukraine’s membership, as is the case with other candidates for EU membership such as Turkey and Serbia. “If there is even the smallest geopolitical gray zone,” the Ukrainian leader said, “claims for hegemony over this region will inevitably arise.” “Different political forces will try to paint this gray zone with their own political colors.” This statement constitutes a serious warning to Brussels.

‘Sanctions must be increased’

Aside from starting full membership negotiations with the EU, Zelensky asked the EU Commission to fulfill Brussels’ promise to use the frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

It is known that the European Commission continues to procrastinate on this issue despite the pressure exerted by Washington.