The year 2021 was a breakthrough year for Ukrainian diplomacy and was able to bring Ukraine closer to its goals - accession to the EU and NATO. At the same time, many countries said they supported our country in its aspirations, reports Obozrevatel.

As Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reminded in an interview with RBK-Ukraine, seven EU countries have already signed declarations in support of Ukraine's European perspective. According to him, these steps brought our state closer to membership in the organization and made it an active political player.

The diplomat noted that in the passing year Ukraine was quite active on the world stage and managed to get support of its supporters in the most acute political issues.

"We have definitely become closer to the EU, not only due to declarations. The meaning of declarations is in many ways a public fixation of support from a particular country. If we have 25 such declarations from member states, then it will be easier to deal with the other two countries," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said.

He also noted that the country in 2021 became closer to the European Union, if only because the agreement on "open skies" was signed.

"This means that it will literally become closer, it will be more convenient to fly," underlined Kuleba.

The diplomat also emphasized that Ukraine in the outgoing year managed to join the European Peace Fund, which "means 31 million euros to strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

He also noted that during the year our country was able to integrate deeper into the domestic market of the European Union, made important steps in disconnection of Ukrainian electricity network from Russian and Belarusian one, but joined European ENTSO-E.

"A lot of these things have happened, which, as I say, without opening doors, open all new windows," the diplomat stressed.

Speaking about Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, Kuleba emphasized that Ukraine had a "breakthrough year" when the country was given the opportunity to join NATO's Enhanced Capabilities Program. Moreover, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry was able to purchase military equipment through the NATO procurement system.