Yesterday at 22:17
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the European Union to accelerate Ukraine’s accession process and open all remaining negotiation clusters, arguing that faster integration would be one of the strongest responses to Russia’s ongoing attacks, UATV English reports.
Addressing participants of the EU Intergovernmental Conference from Chișinău on June 15, Zelenskyy described the opening of the first accession negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova as a historic step and a clear signal that “Europe’s progress cannot be stopped.”
“Ukraine has earned the right to move faster. And that is exactly the political decision Europe needs today,” Zelenskyy said, urging the EU to proceed without delay with the opening of the remaining five negotiation clusters.
The Ukrainian president spoke after another large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine overnight, which killed and injured civilians in Kyiv and damaged the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the country’s most important religious landmarks.
Zelenskyy argued that Russia’s continued aggression and refusal to engage in meaningful peace efforts require a stronger European response, including tougher sanctions and faster progress on Ukraine’s EU membership bid.
The president also revealed new details about diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has repeatedly offered Russian President Vladimir Putin a direct meeting to discuss ending the conflict, but Moscow has so far rejected such proposals.
“We offered Putin to meet anywhere where real decisions to end the war could be made. He does not want it,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukraine had discussed potential formats for such a meeting with international partners, including the United States and France. Zelenskyy said he and U.S. President Donald Trump had recently discussed the possibility of organizing a meeting in the United States.
“Yesterday, we discussed with President Trump that such a meeting could be organized in the U.S. – in a format where Putin would find it much harder to refuse at least to President Trump. And we will see what comes of it,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader noted that if Russia rejects such an opportunity, additional international pressure, including stronger sanctions, will be necessary.
Zelenskyy also thanked European partners for continued military assistance, particularly air defense support, stressing that Ukraine needs a steady supply of missiles, anti-ballistic systems, and interceptors to protect civilians from Russian attacks.
Read also: President of Ukraine and Ecumenical Patriarch discuss Russian strikes on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
