Ukraine has made great strides towards joining the European Union since gaining candidate status, but full accession is a merit-based process.

"We know this is not an easy road. Accession is merit-based – and the Commission will always defend this principle. It takes hard work and leadership," said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in her annual speech State of the European Union.

"But there is already a lot of progress. We have seen the great strides Ukraine has already made since we granted them candidate status. And we have seen the determination of other candidate countries to reform."

Von der Leyen also pointed out that the European Commission has proposed an additional €50 billion for over four years for investment and reforms in Ukraine.

"This will help build Ukraine’s future to rebuild a modern and prosperous country," she added.

In her speech, Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Commission would launch a review of EU policies and propose its ideas on how the European Union should function in view of the upcoming accession of new members.

She also said that the European Commission will propose to extend temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens who have been granted such status in the EU because of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.