Earlier in the day, European Council President Charles Michel announced that the heads of state and government of the EU approved granting Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidates for joining the union.
"This is one of the most important decisions for Ukraine in all 30 years of independence of our country. However, this decision concerns not only Ukraine. It is the biggest step toward a stronger Europe that can be taken right now, in our time," Zelensky said on Telegram.
The European Council will take further steps after the candidate countries fulfill the conditions formulated by the European Commission.
Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro are among the Western Balkan nations whose EU membership is currently pending. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidates.