You're reading: Azarov: Ukraine understands that path to joining EU will be long

A number of politicians in the European Union will oppose Ukraine's accession to the EU, but the Ukrainian government does not see this as an immediate goal, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said. 

“We are not idealists and do not believe that someone is waiting for us in the European Union, let alone wants Ukraine to join the European Union. On the contrary, a number of EU governments see our entry into this union as unacceptable… We understand that a certain number of politicians in Europe will oppose Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” he said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Zavtra published on Wednesday.

“We do not set this as an immediate goal. We understand that we need to go a long way in development. We need to improve our social standards and legal standards. I’m sure that we will fulfill our domestic tasks,” the prime minister added.

He said some European politicians who are currently against Ukraine’s accession may not have the same position ten years from now.

“So we are unconcerned about the issue of Ukraine’s European prospects. For us, the main task is the modernization of our country and, above all, the improvement of social and legal standards for our people. Here we are ready to cooperate with our European neighbors and with our traditional friendly neighbor, which is Russia,” Azarov said.

The Ukrainian prime minister also made it clear that he did not doubt that Ukraine would ultimately become a member of the European Union.