Zelensky called for Ukraine to be admitted to the EU under an accelerated procedure

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky called for his country to be admitted to the EU under an accelerated procedure.

“ Ukraine is counting on an accelerated process. I know that not all leaders like this format - accelerated. I mean, they want the most clear and clear steps for everyone, but we are not “everyone,” with all due respect ,” the president told reporters during the G7 summit in the French city of Evian-les-Bains.

According to him, Ukraine is in a state of war, and “ more creative, quick steps ” are needed.

“ We really need this. Otherwise, if we take a big pause, I just shared this with [German] Chancellor [Friedrich] Merz and with all the leaders, if we take a big pause after this war on our path to the EU, everything will be the same as with NATO. Russia will find a way to block Ukraine’s path to the European Union. They don’t want to see our success ,” the president said, as quoted by Ukrainian media.

Many EU politicians are against Ukraine's accelerated accession to the EU, in particular because the countries of the Western Balkans have been waiting to join the bloc for many years.

Previously, the authorities of Slovakia and Poland stated that they were against the accelerated accession of Kyiv. The new Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar also said that he would oppose Ukraine's admission to the EU under an accelerated procedure.