Von der Leyen: We must accelerate Ukraine's path to EU, membership is strongest security guarantee
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says it is necessary to accelerate the process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union, membership in which will be "the strongest security guarantee."
She stated this on Wednesday in Strasbourg during a plenary session of the European Parliament during a discussion on the issue of EU support for sustainable peace for Ukraine.
"We must accelerate Ukraine's path towards membership of our Union. This is not just Ukraine's aspiration. It can be the strongest security guarantee. And it was a central focus of my latest meeting with President Zelenskyy in Rome," von der Leyen said.
"We are working hard with Ukraine to open the first cluster of accession talks, and to open all clusters in 2025. Ukraine joining our Union is the greatest guarantee of a just and lasting peace. In our history, peace and European integration have always gone hand in hand. So let us bring Ukraine inside our Union. Let us walk the path of peace together. Slava Ukraini, and long live Europe," she said.