Katarína Mathernová, EU Ambassador to Ukraine

Katarína Mathernová, the European Union's ambassador to Ukraine, expressed her satisfaction with Ukraine's progress towards full membership. Despite the country's ongoing economic struggles and recent investigations by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Mathernová remains confident that Ukraine is keeping pace with other candidate countries.

The European Commission's enlargement report, released on Wednesday, highlights Ukraine's readiness for accession. According to the report, Ukraine has the potential to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2028, contingent on accelerated reforms. Mathernová's perspective on Ukraine's progress is based on this report, which evaluates the country's performance across all sectors.

Mathernová emphasized that Ukraine is making steady progress towards EU membership, despite the challenges posed by Russia's aggressive actions. She noted that Ukraine has implemented reforms, particularly in fundamental areas, since the 2013 Revolution of Dignity and has intensified these efforts since the full-scale invasion began. The report acknowledges Ukraine's accomplishments, with 14 areas upgrading to the next level of preparedness.

Among the four front-runners identified by the European Commission, Ukraine stands out for its commitment to fulfilling interim benchmarks on the rule of law by mid-next year. This recognition is significant, as Ukraine is the only country in EU enlargement history, and broader history, to develop a comprehensive reform strategy in wartime.

The report's findings are crucial for Ukrainians, as they underscore the importance of maintaining a strategic perspective on the country's path towards the EU. While challenges persist, Ukraine's progress across all sectors and its commitment to reforms demonstrate that it is on track to meet the conditions for receiving macro-financial support and joining the EU.