Ukraine to apply for EU membership in 2020

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko declared his country’s intention to join the EU and NATO in a speech to Polish parliament on Wednesday.

Ukraine will apply for EU membership in 2020, Poroshenko said. Addressing concerns over his country’s candidacy, Poroshenko pointed to Poland as a role model for Ukraine. Prior to Poland’s accession in 2004, few had trust in Poland’s ability to join the EU, he said.

Ukraine is in a de facto state of war with Ukraine, Poroshenko said, adding his country would eventually reclaim Crimea.

Poroshenko thanked Poland for support in recent difficult times for Ukraine. He delivered much of his speech in a thickly accented but fluent Polish.

The Ukrainian president is in Poland on a two-day visit on the occasion of the ratification of the association treaty between the European Union and Ukraine by his Polish counterpart, Bronislaw Komorowski.