For Ukraine any alternative to EU candidate status would be another European concession to Russia - Zelensky

He made the statement at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa, which the President's Office published in their Telegram channel.

"Ukraine's candidacy in the EU is an important signal. It's not yet membership, but a very important signal for our people, who defend our country and European values. That's why I believe that if there is no joint support for Ukraine's membership in the EU, that's the answer to the question of what values ​​we defend - European or purely our own," the president said.

He called granting Ukraine the status of a EU membership candidate an important step.

"I understand that it's difficult, that many countries have come a long way - years to candidacy, then years to membership. I think it's wrong to compare us with countries that have passed a peaceful path to candidacy - we are going through it through the war for freedom and independence and for European values. We are not only wasting time, as it was in other countries, we are losing more than hours - our people," said the President.

Zelensky thanked the countries that will support Ukraine's candidacy.

"I really want to believe that Portugal will also be on this side of the world. And your support is very important for us," he stressed.

The President has commented on an alternative candidate status.

"Why Ukraine doesn't need an alternative? We don't need certain features or technical capacity to access certain finance. This is important for Ukraine's economy, but we don't need alternatives to the EU candidacy. We don't need these compromises because it won't be a compromise between Ukraine and Europe. It will be another compromise between Europe and Russia," said Zelensky.

He added that Russia has influence and pressure through their politicians, officials and diplomats on the decision of any country in Europe to support Ukraine or not.

"This is again a compromise with Russia. I want to remind you what all these years of certain Western countries' compromises with Russia have led to. That's why we value this united support of the EU," concluded the president.