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An exclusive interview of the Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency about further support for Ukrainians, new projects, defence production, and upcoming the second Peace Summit

Text: Valerie Proshchenko

Almost a year has passed since you began the duties of the EU Ambassador to Ukraine. What has changed in your work during this time? Have there been any changes in priorities?

Tomorrow is the first anniversary of my arrival in Kyiv to take up the post. Shortly after that, I submitted my credentials to President Zelensky. Since then, it's been a whirlwind. A lot of notable things have happened in Ukraine-EU relations over the last year.

In December, European political leaders gave the green light to opening accession negotiations, which formally happened in June of this year, at the end of the Belgian presidency of the EU. The Deputy Prime Minister for Euro-Atlantic and European Integration of Ukraine and the new Minister of Justice, Olga Stefanishina, is currently in Brussels to participate in the screening exercise, which compares Ukrainian legislation and institutional practices with the European Union norms and rules. The trend in the relationship between Ukraine and the EU on European integration is positive.

We are unfortunately still living through a very hot war with terrible casualties and people killed and injured, and war crimes happening on a regular basis. The continued progress on the reform path that is necessary for EU accession is all the more remarkable given that it is happening while fighting a war.

Yes, the war, unfortunately, continues, so there is always a question: what about the further support? The military part is the most