Dear Volodymyr, dear Ursula, dear Commissioners, on the 4th anniversary of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine,

Europe stands shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people.

Being in Kiev today is a statement of solidarity, but it is also a way to thank the Ukrainian people and Ukraine for their fight for our freedom,

and today we remember remember the communities torn apart,

the homes destroyed and the children taken away from their families.

We honor the lives lost, the soldiers, the civilians, the children.

We witness the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

Who have shown extraordinary strength in the face of aggression.

We reaffirm that Europe's future is tied to Ukraine's freedom.

This anniversary is not just about remembering the past.

It's about shaping the future and that future is written in Kiev and and not in Moscow.

The only path forward is a just and lasting peace, a peace rooted in international law,

respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Russia cannot be permitted to make gains at the negotiating table where it has failed on the battlefield.

We welcome all the efforts,

including those by our United States partners, towards sustainable peace.

Russia must come to the negotiating table in a serious way and accept that it will not win this war.

After 4 years of aggression, Ukraine has held firm,

and Russia has not achieved its objectives in Ukraine.

Now, instead of engaging in the negotiations in good faith,

Russia is intensifying its attacks and targeting vital energy infrastructure in the middle of a very harsh winter.

This is an undeniable attack on the innocent civilian population,

as entire communities are left without power in freezing temperatures. This is unacceptable.

My message is clear Ukraine can count on the European Union.

Since the very first day of Russia's war of aggression.

The European Union has been unwavering in full support to Ukraine on all fronts financially,

politically, diplomatically and in terms of security. We will continue.

As soon as possible,

I invite the European Commission to deliver on the decision taken by the European Council on 18 December to give a €90 billion loan to Ukraine. Our support goes beyond the immediate. Ukraine's future is in the European Union.

A prosperous, democratic Ukraine, anchored in the European Union,

is a security guarantee for all of Europe and one of the key elements of the peace process.

Ukraine has already made remarkable progress on the European reforms,

even under the most difficult circumstances.

The accession process is not just a bureaucratic exercise,

it is a transformation that brings real benefits to the Ukrainian people.

Technical preparations with the European Union institutions are going well.

And we can expect significant progress on the accession path in the foreseeable future.

President Zelensky, dear Volodymyr,

I encourage you to continue your good efforts in delivering the necessary reforms.

We will continue to support Ukraine in its accession process.

So let me end by reiterating that you can rely on the European Union, we will be on your side for as long as it takes,

and we are committed to building a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine within the European Union.

Statement by the President of the European Commission.