Korniyenko: Ukraine is set to move towards EU membership as quickly as possible

KYIV. Jan 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Despite the war, Ukraine is determined to move towards membership in the European Union as quickly as possible, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniyenko said.

"The President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada and the government of Ukraine are united around the promotion of European integration reforms in the country and are determined to move along the path to EU membership, despite the war, as quickly as possible," Korniyenko said at a meeting with the President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE) Timmy Dooley and Renew Europe MEP Billy Kelleher in Kyiv.

According to the Verkhovna Rada press service, Korniyenko said Ukraine is preparing to present the results of the implementation of all seven recommendations of the European Commission, necessary to start negotiations on membership in the European Union, at the Ukraine-EU summit and expects a positive assessment of its efforts.

The first deputy chairman also said the international community must immediately and decisively respond to Russian terrorism and the crimes committed against Ukraine.

"We hope to accelerate the comprehensive international isolation of Russia, the rapid implementation and strict implementation of all sanctions and a significant increase in political, economic, financial, military-technical and humanitarian support for Ukraine," he said.

According to him, Ukraine, like no other, is interested in establishing peace and ending the unprovoked destructive war started by Russia.

"For peace to be truly sustainable, it must be based on clear criteria, in particular, the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders and the prevention of further escalation, which is possible only if the Kremlin’s military machine is destroyed."

Korniyenko said Peace Formula of President Volodymyr Zelensky is not only aimed at establishing peace in Ukraine, but also has a global dimension, namely the restoration of respect for the UN Charter and world order.

The Verkhovna Rada first deputy chairman expressed his hope that the European Union will become a permanent participant in the implementation of all ten points of the Peace Formula.

Korniyenko also focused on the issue of creating a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine, recalling that the European Parliament supported its creation.

"It is important to reach an agreement as soon as possible on a mutually acceptable mechanism for prosecuting Russia for the crime of aggression in Ukraine," Korniyenko said.