President Volodymyr Zelensky optimistic on upcoming EU-Ukraine accession negotiations

In his nightly address to the nation, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the upcoming EU-Ukraine accession negotiations.

“I held a long meeting with diplomats, government officials, and representatives of the Verkhovna Rada to discuss our country’s preparations for the European Council’s political decision to start negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. Our steps and our decisions.

“We are working to get an unconditioned decision to open negotiations.

“For Ukraine, it is a matter of principle to implement all the recommendations of the European Commission, all seven recommendations, and fulfill everything that is required at this point of our path to the European Union.

“The success of our country and people – economic, social, and success in building Ukraine’s relations with the world – can only be achieved as a common success of the whole of Europe.

“To this end, we are gradually strengthening our institutions and legislation, even during a full-scale war. And I am grateful to everyone who contributes to this, who endorses the relevant decisions, who puts them into action.”

In addition to the EU-Ukraine accession negotiations, President Zelensky also referred to the newly operational NATO backed regional F-16 aircrew training hub which will also be available to  Ukraine during its war with Russia.

The first seven pilots began training this week.

The European F-16 training centre (EFTC) is hosted at a Romanian military air base near the southeastern town of Fetesti and is using F-16 jets provided by the Netherlands with training support from Lockheed Martin and its contractors.

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