Ukraine could join the European Union before 2030 if the country continues its reforms at their current speed and quality, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Kyiv on Monday.
"I really appreciate the political will that is there. I would even say Ukraine's merit-based process, if they continue at that speed and at that quality, perhaps they could be earlier than 2030,", Von der Leyen said.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda had earlier proposed setting Ukraine’s EU accession date for January 1, 2030.
"The security of Europe depends on the security of Ukraine,” he was quoted as saying by the Ukrainska Pravda news site. “That is why I want to accelerate Ukraine's accession to the EU. I propose a date of 1 January 2030."
EU Council President Antonio Costa added that accession to the EU would be the most important security guarantee for the future of Ukraine.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Monday he hoped to see an end to his country’s war with Russia this year, adding that it was important to ensure that Moscow does not launch a second attack.
“And if Ukraine will be in EU and in NATO in closest years, of course it will help us very much," he added.
Ukraine hosted European leaders on Monday to mark three years of all-out war with Russia, while top U.S. officials stayed away in an illustration of President Donald Trump's lurch towards Moscow since returning to power, Reuters reported.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda had earlier proposed setting Ukraine’s EU accession date for January 1, 2030.
"The security of Europe depends on the security of Ukraine,” he was quoted as saying by the Ukrainska Pravda news site. “That is why I want to accelerate Ukraine's accession to the EU. I propose a date of 1 January 2030."
Security guarantee
EU Council President Antonio Costa added that accession to the EU would be the most important security guarantee for the future of Ukraine.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Monday he hoped to see an end to his country’s war with Russia this year, adding that it was important to ensure that Moscow does not launch a second attack.
“And if Ukraine will be in EU and in NATO in closest years, of course it will help us very much," he added.
Ukraine hosted European leaders on Monday to mark three years of all-out war with Russia, while top U.S. officials stayed away in an illustration of President Donald Trump's lurch towards Moscow since returning to power, Reuters reported.
In addition to von der Leyen and Costa, the visiting dignitaries included the leaders of Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
Leaders of Albania, Britain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey spoke by video link.
The European leaders rallied around Zelenskyy in speeches, calling for countries on the continent to step up support for Kyiv, while some spoke of the urgent need to increase defense spending.
European officials have been left flat-footed by Trump's decisions to hold talks on ending the war in Ukraine with Russia, spurning both Kyiv and Europe, and by his administration's warning that the United States was no longer primarily focused on Europe's security.
Leaders of Albania, Britain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey spoke by video link.
European leaders rally around Zelenskyy
The European leaders rallied around Zelenskyy in speeches, calling for countries on the continent to step up support for Kyiv, while some spoke of the urgent need to increase defense spending.
European officials have been left flat-footed by Trump's decisions to hold talks on ending the war in Ukraine with Russia, spurning both Kyiv and Europe, and by his administration's warning that the United States was no longer primarily focused on Europe's security.
European foreign ministers said on Monday the region had entered a new era with Trump's stunning reversal of decades of U.S. foreign policy, but that they still hoped the relationship with Washington could endure.
"It's clear that the statements coming from (the) United States make us all worried," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.
But she added that Europe and the United States had worked out their differences before "and we also expect to do so this time."
After meeting the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in Washington on Monday Trump told reporters he had spoken to G7 leaders, adding that everyone on the call expressed the goal of seeing the war in Ukraine end. He said he would be willing to go to Moscow.
In a post on Truth Social after the call, Trump said he was also in "serious discussions" with Putin about ending the war and about "major Economic Development transactions which will take place between the United States and Russia."
‘Worried’ at Trump
"It's clear that the statements coming from (the) United States make us all worried," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.
But she added that Europe and the United States had worked out their differences before "and we also expect to do so this time."
After meeting the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in Washington on Monday Trump told reporters he had spoken to G7 leaders, adding that everyone on the call expressed the goal of seeing the war in Ukraine end. He said he would be willing to go to Moscow.
In a post on Truth Social after the call, Trump said he was also in "serious discussions" with Putin about ending the war and about "major Economic Development transactions which will take place between the United States and Russia."
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