Heads of EU institutions reiterate support for Ukraine's European future in joint statement

BRUSSELS. Feb 24 (Interfax) - The presidents of the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament reiterated the intention to admit Ukraine into the European Union in the future in a joint statement on Monday.

"The future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union," President of the European Council Antonio Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said in the statement.

"Ukraine is part of our European family. Ukrainians have expressed their wish for a future within the European Union. We have acknowledged that by granting Ukraine the status of candidate country and launched accession negotiations," the statement says.

"Ukraine has made significant progress in accession related reforms under the most challenging circumstances," it says.

The EU is already integrating Ukraine into its internal market, it says.

"In a challenging international and geopolitical environment, we stress the importance of maintaining transatlantic and global solidarity with Ukraine," the statement says.