The Foreign Ministry insists that Ukraine expects to receive candidate status for EU membership as early as this year and to enlist the support of France on its path to membership in the European Union.
This was said by Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko exclusively in a commentary to European Pravda, reacting to statements by French Minister for European Affairs Clément Bona.
"Russia's war against Ukraine has shown the need to rethink the future of Europe. The approaches that have so far guided European politicians have failed to secure the European continent from new aggression. Talking about alternatives that could replace Ukraine's full-fledged integration into the EU is a change of form, but not of content. This way will not make the European community stronger and more prosperous", - Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Mykolenko said.
As previously reported, the French Minister for European Affairs, Clément Bon, said that the process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union may take 15 or 20 years.
The Ukrainian side, in turn, hopes to get candidate status in the EU in just a few weeks.
"That is why we insist on granting Ukraine candidate status to the EU as early as June. Ukraine is currently the only place in Europe where people defend European values at the cost of their own lives. Candidacy will be an important signal to Ukrainians that Europe appreciates and respects their efforts," Mykolenko continued.
He expressed hope that Ukraine's path to the EU will not be as long as Bohn noted if France shows leadership in the process.
"Granting EU candidate status does not mean immediate membership. It is a process to go through. And we are sure that we will pass this way faster if France and other influential European countries show leadership," the Foreign Ministry spokesman concluded.
