German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a military honour ceremony in the courtyard of the Chancellery, in Berlin, Germany, September 4, 2022. REUTERS/Christian Mang
Brussels: Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that his country expects to start negotiations about its membership in the European Union by the end of this year.
"The association agreement is fulfilled almost by 65%. We are very actively moving towards its implementation. Other procedures cannot replace the agreement. We must fulfill all the requirements. Meanwhile, we have to fulfill the seven requirements set by granting Ukraine candidate status," Shmyhal said at a press conference in Brussels.
On Feb. 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a request for Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
The heads of state and government of the European Union agreed at the Brussels summit on June 23 to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidates to join the Union.
