According to Zelenskyi, those responsible in Ukraine and the EU are in agreement: "Only together can a strong Ukraine and a strong European Union protect the life we ​​value," he said. "And that our further integration must give our people energy and motivation to fight against all obstacles and threats."

An EU-Ukraine summit with Selenskyj will take place in Kyiv on Friday, which will be attended by von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel. Ukraine has officially been a candidate for EU membership since June 2022. But the path to full membership can take years, if not decades - or even come to nothing, as the example of Turkey shows.

Von der Leyen wrote on Twitter that Ukraine was making "remarkable progress" in implementing EU recommendations while "fighting an invasion."

The head of the commission arrived in Kyiv on Thursday morning with 15 other commission members for a two-day visit. She began by praising the recent crackdown on corruption in the country by the Ukrainian authorities.