Zelenskyy made the remarks while addressing Ukrainian diplomats on what is their professional holiday.
He said: “We must accede to the European Union. Next year, we must do as much as we can toward that goal in the process of negotiating and developing relationships with our partners in the European Union.
“Therefore, Poland’s presidency in the first half of the year and in the latter half Denmark’s EU presidency should be historic for Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy also set out the key tasks that the diplomats will face in order to achieve justice for Ukraine, which include establishing Russia’s responsibility for the war, pushing for sanctions against Russia, and seeking out Russian assets that have not yet been frozen.
Aside from these goals, which he said will require systematic work, the diplomats must also “work as closely as possible with all partners who are already investing or who can become investors in our domestic, Ukrainian weapons manufacturing, in our joint reconstruction projects.”
Another important task the diplomats will need to work toward will be convincing Kyiv’s allies in NATO to admit Ukraine to the alliance, Zelenskyy said.
He said: “We all understand that Ukraine’s invitation to NATO and membership in the alliance can only be a political decision. Alliance for Ukraine is achievable, but it is achievable only if we fight for this decision at all the necessary levels.”
Zelenskyy said allies needed to know what Ukraine can bring to NATO and how its membership in the alliance would stabilize global relations.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged NATO to invite it to become a member. The Western military alliance has said Ukraine will join its ranks one day but has not set a date or issued an invitation.
Moscow has cited the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO as one of the principal justifications for its 2022 invasion. Kyiv says membership in the alliance’s mutual defense pact, or an equivalent form of security guarantee, would be crucial to any peace plan to ensure that Russia does not attack again.
Last week, Zelenskyy urged European countries to provide guarantees to protect Ukraine after the war with Russia ends, and said Ukraine would ultimately need more protection through NATO membership.
