Estonian Prime Minister Kaia Kallas on Monday called for the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union this year, as demanded by Kyiv, AFP reports.

“We hope that Ukraine will be able to start accession negotiations with the EU this year,” Kallas said, speaking alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyi during a visit to Zhytomyr, Ukraine.

At the same time, she admitted that it will be a “difficult process” and that Ukraine must “fulfill 100% of the conditions” put forward by the EU.

“I think you have to use this opportunity, this window, to start the tough reforms,” ​​she said later in a session with students.

Zelensky called the negotiations with Kallas “very fruitful”.

Estonia is one of the main supporters of Ukraine against Russia. It was Callas’ first visit to the country since his party’s landslide victory last month.

The leaders met in an administrative building in Zhytomyr, with sandbags stacked in front of windows and near the ruins of a school destroyed by a Russian missile in March 2022.

Kallas said the main focus is on “weapons, ammunition and training” for the military as Kyiv prepares a counteroffensive.

She called on other European countries to show “determination” and “speed” in supplying Kyiv with the promised weapons.

In early March, Ukraine said it had implemented reforms required by the EU for accession talks, including fighting corruption, an endemic evil in the country.

Brussels granted Kyiv official candidate status for the European Union in June 2022, four months after the invasion began.

The initiation of accession negotiations is a decision that must be taken unanimously by the member states on a proposal from the Commission.