The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement on January 2 saying that Mr. Zelensky had discussed in detail about this high-level meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the first phone call of 2023.
"The sides discussed the expected results of the next Ukraine-EU summit to be held on February 2 in Kiev and agreed to strengthen preparations," the statement said.
According to AFP, during the phone call, the leaders discussed the provision of weapons and a new financial assistance program worth 18 billion euros ($19 billion) to Ukraine. President Zelensky pushed for the first aid package sent in January.
The summit's theme, in addition to discussing further support for Ukraine, is also expected to assess Ukraine's progress on EU membership. In June 2022, Ukraine was recognized as a candidate to join the European Union.
In September of the same year, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine had ambitions to become an official member of the EU within 2 years.
To achieve that goal, Ukraine needs to meet the conditions of the European Commission on issues related to justice, law and anti-corruption efforts, then move on to negotiating EU membership.
On December 27, 2022, Olha Stefanishyna - Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European and European integration - Atlantic, reported that Ukraine had done "all it could" to implement the recommendations made by the EU.
