Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the European Union's decision to accept Ukraine as a candidate for membership as a success and vowed not to rest until Russia was defeated and total membership was obtained.

European Union officials recently accepted Ukraine as a candidate to join the 27-nation bloc; a bold geopolitical step hailed as a historic moment by both Ukraine and the EU itself. read further

"This is a victory," Zelensky said in a quick Instagram video, emphasizing that Ukraine had waited 30 years for this moment.

He said in a quiet voice, "We can defeat the enemy, rebuild Ukraine, join the EU, and then we can rest,"

"Or we may not rest at all because our children would be offended. But there is no doubt that we will prevail."

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff, stated that Kyiv would swiftly implement the strategy necessary to initiate accession talks.

He tweeted, "Ukraine will be in the EU,"