Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday that he has begun working with President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council António Costa on the 'details' of a security guarantee that would mean the country's accession to the European Union (EU), and he demands it be by a 'clear date,' in 2027. 'It is fundamental that we have begun working on the details of a key geopolitical security guarantee for Ukraine and all of Europe, as well as on a clear date for Ukraine's accession to the European Union,' he said at a press conference with von der Leyen and Costa, reiterating that 'the year 2027 is very important for us, and I hope it is achievable.' Zelensky said he hopes for this date so that (Russian President Vladimir) 'Putin cannot block our accession for decades.' 'It is true that we want a fast track to accession and we are grateful for the great support and the candidate country status, among other things, from the EU institutions,' he said. He warned that 'he knows' Putin 'will try to block' Ukraine's accession to the community club in the future if there is no guarantee with a clear date. 'I don't want my country and our people—who have lived through all these challenges for all these years of large-scale invasion, this entire war and this tragedy—to go through the same thing we have now' if Russia were to attack the country again after a potential ceasefire. 'The technical preparations with the EU institutions are going well, and we can expect significant progress on the path to accession in the near future,' he said. Von der Leyen was more specific in stating that this is a goal set by Zelensky and not by the European Commission (EC), which is negotiating with the country the chapters for accession. 'I understand very well that for you too, a clear date is important. Russia is blocking us because it does not see Ukraine as an independent country or as part of the European family. The date you set is your benchmark, the goal you want to achieve. That is why they will certainly try to block it,' she explained. 'But we are ready for a fast track. You know that on our part, setting dates themselves is not possible.'
