Poroshenko calls on EU leaders to give Ukraine prospect of EU membership

KYIV. April 27 (Interfax) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called on the European Union to give Ukraine the prospect of EU membership.

“I am calling on the EU to admit that Ukraine, like any other European state that respects and is ready to defend common values, can become an EU member in the future, supporting ambitions for European integration by the people of Ukraine. Of course, provided that all criteria are reached,” he said, opening a plenary session of the Ukraine-EU summit in Kyiv on Monday.

The president reiterated that Ukraine needs considerable and consistent support from the EU in the spirit of association and integration, as well as political and economic support as it carries out the necessary reforms in the current difficult situation.

“EU assistance should help strengthen the faith of the people of Ukraine in the irreversibility of the future of Ukraine in the EU and the need to go through a process of internal reforms, which is sometimes painful, but not super-difficult,” Poroshenko said.