Zelensky's first order of business in 2023 was an agenda discussion with the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, the statement read. "The parties discussed expected results of the next Ukraine-EU summit to be held on February 3 in Kyiv and agreed to intensify preparatory work."

Top EU officials have already been to the Ukrainian capital on official visits: von der Leyen herself visited twice, first last April, then in September, while European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Council President Charles Michel both went to Kyiv in April.

As both the leaders exchanged words over a call, they discussed a fresh $19 billion financial aid for Ukraine. However, Zelensky asserted an early transaction of the first chunk of the assistance. Another matter was the supply of 'appropriate' weapons for the war-struck nation.

Last November the EU launched the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) to continue supporting Ukraine against the ongoing Russian war of aggression.

In December 2022, the European Union provided Ukraine with a special aid, which included a 15 percent global corporate tax rate adoption for Ukraine, the second-largest European country. The move followed an impassioned plea from Zelensky not to let internal disputes within the 27-nation bloc stand in the way of backing Kyiv.