European Council President António Costa has said that Ukraine has helped build a new, truly geopolitical European Union that takes responsibility for its own defence and is willing to welcome Ukraine.
Costa stressed that Ukraine's future in the EU is the best guarantee of security and long-term democratic stability for both Ukraine and Europe as a whole.
"Our goal is Ukraine's integration into the European Union's peace project: a union of nations that have overcome nationalism, that uphold democracy and the rule of law, and that work together for shared prosperity and development," Costa stated.
Nevertheless, Costa noted that joining the EU is a complex process.
"But these challenges should not block our political determination, rooted in geopolitical necessity and the free, democratic choice of the Ukrainian people," he said.
"Ukraine has already helped to build a new, truly geopolitical European Union: a Union that takes responsibility for its defence, strengthens its strategic autonomy, stands firmly for international law and multilateralism, builds partnerships across a changing world, and welcomes new Member States. And it's ready to welcome Ukraine in the EU," Costa summed up.
