Ukraine has made excellent progress on the way to EU membership – EU Commission chief

Next week, the European Commission will publish an assessment of Ukraine's progress towards EU membership.

During a briefing with President Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that Ukraine had achieved an excellent result on the way to joining the EU.

"I have to say that you have made excellent progress. We will confirm this next week when the Commission presents its report on enlargement," she said.

Von der Leyen noted that the EU was impressed by the reforms that "you are carrying out amid war."

"We must not forget that you are waging a war for your own existence. At the same time, you are deeply reforming your country. You are reforming the justice system, fighting the influence of oligarchs, fighting money laundering," she added.

The chief of the European Commission said that Ukraine was completing major reforms.

"And if this happens, I am sure that Ukraine's ambitious goal of moving to the next stage of the accession process will be achieved," said von der Leyen.

She said that "the commission is working on allocating an additional €50 billion of support." Ursula von der Leyen also noted that more than 65% of agricultural products from Ukraine go "along the solidarity lines."

"We are investing, strengthening these lines, roads, crossings, railways. 12 million investments were promised last year, but this amount should be higher," she said.

According to Von der Leyen, "sanctions have a deep impact on the Russian economy. Soon, we will approve the 12th package of sanctions. There will be new lists of those responsible for military trade and the occupation of Ukraine, as well as those involved in the abduction of children, those involved in making fake news, circumventing import and export bans, and those who violate the oil price ceiling."

What we know about President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen's visit to Kyiv

On November 4, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, arrived on an official visit to Kyiv and met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

The chief of the European Commission is also scheduled to speak in the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada. The visit is taking place on the eve of the European Commission's report with recommendations to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.