Ukraine expresses its desire to start negotiations on its future membership in the European Union before the end of this year. In addition, Ukrainian diplomatic missions in various countries are actively working on preparations for NATO membership and require concrete security guarantees in this process. These issues were emphasized as priorities of the country's foreign policy.

This was announced by Volodymyr Zelensky in his speech during an emergency meeting with the heads of diplomatic institutions of Ukraine, which was held in the Transcarpathian region. Our state should begin preparations for the NATO summit in Washington as soon as possible.

"Negotiations on Ukraine's future membership in the European Union will start already this year, and Ukraine will be ready for it," the head of state said.

He emphasized that all Ukrainian diplomats operating in the capitals of various countries and institutions of the European Union have the task of actively contributing to the consolidation of Europe to ensure common security and progress.

"The decision to start accession negotiations for our state should be approved by the European Council at the end of the year, and there is no alternative to this," the president emphasized.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was urgent to start preparations for the NATO summit in Washington to promote Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. This implies active interaction and discussion of the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO with partners from the Alliance countries. Preparations for the summit will strengthen the dialog and partnership between Ukraine and NATO, as well as outline concrete steps and measures to ensure security and stability in the region.

"The task of Ambassadors to NATO countries is to work to consolidate all Alliance capitals around shared security priorities. It is in Ukraine that security for our continent and the rules-based international order is acquired, and this deserves political and legal recognition by all our allies," he said.

The President noted that obtaining security guarantees for Ukraine on its way to NATO is no less important. The package of guarantees is expected to become more specific in the second half of this year. This means that NATO partner countries will provide Ukraine with specific commitments to ensure its security and support on the way to membership in the Alliance.

"This week we are starting to work on bilateral agreements, and the first state we are working with is the United States," said Volodymyr Zelensky and emphasized the need for further work on the accession of other countries to the document.

In addition, the President noted the importance of continuing the neighborhood policy. The modern world, he says, needs all free democratic countries to have good neighborliness.

"Your task is to create more neighbor opportunities for our state. To protect our interests, but also to protect the commonality of interests with our neighbors, with all but the aggressor state and its satellites. Ukraine knows how to be grateful to every country, absolutely all people and every nation that helped us. But our contribution to the common security also deserves gratitude", Volodymyr Zelensky said.

In his opinion, Ukraine needs new manifestations of solidarity and new programs of cooperation and long-term systemic support.

G7 leaders on the margins of the NATO summit in Vilnius agreed on a joint declaration in support of Ukraine with security guarantees for our state on July 13. They stipulate several bilateral security commitments to Kyiv, the goal of which is "to build a Ukraine that can defend its territorial integrity now and in the future."

The full text of the declaration is published on the website of the President of Ukraine.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, Biden's State Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Ukraine's future is in NATO and that is off the table. Although it is not possible to do it now because of a domestic war against invaders, the outcome will be the only one.

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