It is an honor for me to be here today at the Catholic University and to talk to you about Ukraine’s path towards membership in the European Union.

I would like to begin by emphasizing that one of the most important guarantees of peace and security for our country, and indeed for all of Europe, is Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. Ukraine’s integration into the EU is not only a national goal, but also a key pillar of regional stability and collective security.

Our path to EU integration is full of challenges. Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, while at the same time implementing serious and far-reaching reforms. These include strengthening the rule of law, reforming the judiciary, combating corruption, and aligning our national legislation with EU standards.

History

Throughout our history, there have been many attempts by Russia to destroy our identity, culture, and independence. The Soviet Union was one of the most prominent examples. Since the renewal of our independence in 1991, Ukraine has undergone a profound transformation: from Moscow-oriented leadership to democratic change driven by society, from revolutions expressing our people’s clear will to be part of the European community, to resisting a full-scale Russian invasion while building a strong, pro-European state with a pro-Ukrainian President, Parliament, and state institutions.

For us, the choice is clear, black and white. We are a European nation: strong, resilient, with a deep history and strong ties to Europe. And we will not allow Russian imperialism to push us back into the darkness of oppression, cruelty, and violence.

Support

At the same time, our European path is supported by concrete actions and partnerships. I would like to highlight the importance of 2023, particularly Spain’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. During this period, a historic decision was made to officially launch EU accession negotiations with Ukraine. This step was not only political but also a powerful signal of unity and support.

We are deeply grateful to Spain for its leadership, clear commitment, and consistent support for Ukraine’s European future.

Spain’s own experience is very meaningful for us. Since joining the European Union in 1986, 40 years ago, Spain has demonstrated how European integration can transform a country: strengthening democracy, boosting economic development, and increasing its role on the global stage. This is an inspiring example for Ukraine.

I am also grateful for the support of Sweden and would like to acknowledge dear Per-Arne Hjelmborn. We admire Sweden’s path to stability and prosperity, and your historical experience facing Russia in past wars resonates with us.

Dеfence

Our commitment is unwavering: Ukraine seeks not only to join the European Union but also to actively contribute to its strength and unity. This includes not only reforms, but also sharing Ukraine’s experience, resilience, and innovation, particularly in the fields of defense and technology. Ukraine already contributes to European security by combating disinformation, strengthening cyber security, and managing crises across multiple sectors.

Conditions

Since obtaining EU candidate status in 2022, Ukraine has made substantial progress in implementing key reforms.

I would like to highlight an important milestone. On March 17, the European Commission provided Ukraine with the accession conditions, the so-called benchmarks, for the final three negotiating clusters. This means that Ukraine now has a complete set of requirements for all negotiation clusters, giving us a clear roadmap for what is expected in order to fulfill the conditions for EU membership. In this sense, we have entered a new phase of the negotiation process, one focused on the practical implementation of these conditions. Ukraine now has a clear understanding of the expectations of EU Member States, which allows us to move forward in a more structured, efficient, and results-oriented way.

We also face additional political challenges stemming from the positions of certain European governments, including Slovakia and Hungary, whose approaches align with or indirectly support Russian interests.

At the same time, this journey remains extremely demanding. The ongoing Russian war against Ukraine places immense pressure on our institutions, economy, and society. Yesterday alone, Ukraine faced attacks by over 1,000 drones. But we continue to advance our reforms with determination.

Let me emphasize once again that Ukraine’s integration into the European Union is a strategic investment in the stability, security, and prosperity of Europe as a whole. Ukraine has already demonstrated its commitment to core European values: freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights.

We are deeply grateful for the support of Spain and all our European partners. Together, we are building a shared future based on unity and solidarity.

Thank you for your attention.