Olha Stefanishyna

President Zelensky approved the composition of the Ukrainian delegation headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko to participate in the conference on the restoration of Ukraine in Berlin on June 11-12 amid the scandal surrounding the dismissal of the previous deputy prime minister for reconstruction.

Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets proposed to introduce the day of national minorities on November 7 to celebrate the rights of ethnic communities, as well as to create homes for national minorities and allocate funding for the state program for the protection of minority rights.

At the July NATO summit, Ukraine expects clear decisions on membership in the Alliance and strengthening its air defense system thanks to the new Patriot air defense systems.

Ukraine and Hungary are conducting a political dialogue to prepare for the meeting between Prime Minister Viktor Orban and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The European Commission will submit a positive report on Ukraine's compliance with the political criteria for starting EU membership negotiations.

EU ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Maternova held her first meeting with Ukrainian officials, including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, to discuss Ukraine's priorities, urgent energy needs in connection with Russia's attacks, as well as reforms related to the IMF program, EU funds and anti-corruption efforts.

Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna discussed Ukraine's urgent military needs, including air defense systems, F-16 aircraft, ammunition and long-range artillery with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will meet with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels to discuss Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership and cooperation with the Alliance.

Ukraine will insist on full territorial integration without any restrictions in the EU membership agreement, citing the precedent of Cyprus and demanding guarantees of inclusion of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ukraine has fulfilled all of its commitments to the EU membership negotiations, and a decision on the approval of the framework for negotiations is expected to be reached by consensus among EU leaders after the European Parliament elections in late June, as agreed, with all necessary documents ready by the end of May.

Ukraine's path to EU accession will be difficult, but the European Parliament and the EU will help rebuild Ukraine's infrastructure and economy because Ukraine is Europe and Europe is Ukraine, said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

Ukraine is close to starting EU accession talks after fulfilling all the necessary requirements, and the negotiation phase is expected to begin in June, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine has carried out all the necessary reforms and is now "one step away from an invitation" to join NATO. Shmyhal expects Ukraine to receive the invitation at the NATO summit in July.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister calls on EU partners to adopt a negotiation framework for Ukraine's accession to the EU in June, citing reforms in the areas of rule of law, anti-corruption, and a competitive market economy.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects Ukraine to start EU accession talks in June.

For the first time in 7 years, Ukraine has enough vaccines to cover all age groups that need immunization.

The EU is convinced that Russia must be held accountable for the horrific missile attack on the center of Chernihiv, which killed 14 innocent people and damaged civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine is now a leader in the EU membership negotiations and shares its experience with the Balkan countries, Moldova and Georgia.

Ukraine expects the European Union to approve a framework for negotiations on its accession to the EU in June, paving the way for the start of the negotiation process, according to Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna.

President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needs an invitation to join NATO this year, calling it realistic because Ukraine defends the Alliance's common values and deserves reliable security, as does the Baltic region after Finland and Sweden joined.

Yermak and Szijjarto held online talks, making progress in improving Ukrainian-Hungarian bilateral relations, including agreeing on 5 out of 11 proposed points, finalizing positions on national communities, expanding logistics and transportation capabilities on the common border, and planning to record the agreements reached.

U. S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed hope that the upcoming NATO summit will be devoted to developing a roadmap for Ukraine's accession to the Alliance.

Poland will work to convene the first intergovernmental conference between the EU and Ukraine no later than June 2024, which will mark the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

Delegates from NATO and Ukraine will meet in Luxembourg to discuss modernizing Ukraine's defense procurement process to make it faster, more sustainable and transparent, as part of NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package to support Ukraine's security and reform efforts.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna says that the key opponents of Ukraine's invitation to NATO are the United States and Germany, which urge Kyiv not to spoil the "atmosphere" at the upcoming summit in Washington.

Ukraine expects to start accession talks with the EU in June 2023 on the basis of a gentlemen's agreement with most EU countries.

Vice Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna met with Admiral Robert Bauer, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, to discuss NATO's increased support for Ukraine in building military capabilities, increasing defense production, and preparing for the upcoming NATO Summit, which will discuss further assistance to Ukraine.

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said that despite Washington's calls to limit strikes on russia's energy infrastructure, Kyiv is forced to fight with the resources it has.

Ukraine aims to complete its "homework" for EU accession within two years, but the reform process will continue after the accession.

This week, the European Commission is expected to approve a draft negotiation framework for Ukraine's accession to the European Union.