The end of a year is always a good moment for reflection. As I am writing this on 29 December, I feel a mixture of strong emotions. Last night Ukraine fell victim to the largest air attack since the full-scale invasion. Russia fired 158 missiles and drones of different types onto a number of urban centers. Among them are Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Kherson. Targeting civilian objects, including a maternity ward, a shopping mall, and schools.

Despicable and cowardly acts.

Seeing the images, it is hard not to worry, be scared and

look at the upcoming new year with trepidation.

But also a determination to fight on until Ukraine’s victory.

At the same time, we are entering the new year with hope and anticipation, as a new chapter in EU-Ukraine relations will be written in 2024.

In mid-December, leaders of the European Union member states gave their green light for opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. That will mean opening and closing "chapters" containing EU norms and rules as the way to progress on the path to EU membership.

The signal of hope sent on 14 December by EU leaders recognised the bravery and resilience of Ukrainians, reform leadership of President Zelenskyy and his government, as well as the strong will of over 90% of the population to bind its national destiny with the EU.

All this is important: for any country, joining the EU is not a task just for the government. It is a whole-of-society effort. I remember it well from the time when my homeland, Slovakia, took the same path. Transforming the whole country will need the involvement of everyone. From the central to regional and local levels. Across the political spectrum. It will concern officials, Ukraine's strong civil society, its churches and its businesses.

And the EU will be there to support you.

The early December votes in the Verkhovna Rada on several central EU integration matters – garnering overwhelming majorities of votes across the political parties – were an important and hopeful sign.

Ukraine has shown what it is capable of: undertaking important reforms in sensitive areas such as the rule of law, judiciary, anti-corruption and fundamental rights while fighting an existential war.

In fact, one might argue that the unity of the country during the war has been an actual enabler for several reforms. With this, Ukraine has defied the corrosive negative narratives, many of which are the fruit of the aggressor's disinformation.

Ukraine defied the expectations of the naysayers.

And now it is crucial to keep up the reform effort in the new year and beyond.

On the EU integration path, we are moving from a phase of a sprint to a long distance run. And one with hurdles. Such is the nature of the EU decision-making which also says that progress in EU integration will require keeping European unity.

Sometimes it may even feel like making the proverbial two steps forward and one step back. In moments like that, one needs to keep the ultimate goal in mind: joining the EU, however frustrating the process may seem at times, is worth it.

This goal should help in overcoming both internal and external challenges bound to arise in 2024.

On its EU path, Ukraine is not starting from scratch!

Unlike the countries such as mine that joined the EU in 2004.

The implementation of the Association Agreement – the signature of which was a key demand of the Revolution of Dignity ten years ago – has already led to the harmonisation of important parts of Ukrainian laws and regulations with the norms valid in the EU. Ukraine is already exporting to the EU tariff-free. It is part of most of key EU programmes. Just before Christmas, Horizon Europe, the flagship research programme of the EU, opened a Kyiv office. This will facilitate access of Ukraine’s researchers and innovators to both funding and network opportunities with the EU research and innovation community.

This year we witnessed a landmark meeting between the College of EU Commissioners and Ukraine's Government. And in October, the meeting of EU foreign ministers, for the first time in an EU candidate country. These are just some examples of the closeness we already enjoy.

Our central wish for 2024 is Ukraine’s success at the front and its victory, as soon as possible.

To achieve this, the EU, its member states and their allies have provided Ukraine with unprecedented assistance.

From military to budget support, from humanitarian assistance to early recovery. The EU will agree on a new assistance package for Ukraine in the new year. I am certain of this. And we will continue supporting Ukraine also militarily. Because of our unwavering commitment to your country.

But not only. Also because restoring peace on our continent is a shared existential goal for both, Ukraine and the European Union.

I continue to be amazed and humbled by the resilience, determination and bravery the people of Ukraine keep showing in the face of Russia’s aggression. We will do our utmost to keep supporting you, as our future member state.

Let’s keep this in mind as we enter 2024.