Zelenskyy Expects Ukraine’s EU Membership in 2 Years’ Time

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized some world leaders who believe his country could join the EU in just one decade as pessimists, as he insisted that the country become part of the bloc within two years.

Addressing an investment forum hosted by JPMorgan, he said, “There are some pessimistic leaders in the world who think that Ukraine needs 10 years to be in the EU <...>. We have to be in the EU in two years," Zelenskyy's Telegram channel on Saturday.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has been told it could be another 30 to 50 years before it can join the EU. Ironically, he wished everyone to live long but maintained that he expected the operation to be accomplished much sooner.

Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal mentioned that the government expects to become a member of the European Union in less than two years after the start of accession talks. 

Zelenskyy insisted that negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union should begin early this year.

At a summit between the EU and Ukraine in Kyiv on February 3, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the country's accession would depend on how quickly it met the conditions required for membership.