Ukraine is accelerating its rapprochement with the West and now aims for OECD membership.

Ukraine has taken another step toward closer ties with Western institutions by submitting an updated application to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The announcement was made by the president Volodymyr Zelenskywhich hopes to obtain official candidate country status as early as this autumn.

This approach is part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening Ukraine's integration into Western political and economic structures. For several years, Kyiv has been collaborating with the OECD to adopt international reforms and standards in governance, transparency, and economic development.

Following a meeting in Kyiv with OECD Secretary-General Matthias Cormann, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko had officially submitted the revised version of Ukraine's candidacy. According to the president, the goal is now to secure candidate status before the end of the year.

Zelensky clarified that a roadmap toward full membership could then be developed in cooperation with the organization. Such a step would constitute an important symbolic and political milestone for Ukraine, which seeks to strengthen its ties with Western democracies as the war with Russia continues.

Alongside this candidacy, Kyiv is also pursuing its accession process to the European Union. Just last week, the Ukrainian president reaffirmed his desire to see the country join the EU quickly. Authorities hope to open the final negotiating groups by July 15, the date marking the celebration of Ukrainian State Day.

For Ukrainian leaders, integration into European and Western institutions represents not only an economic opportunity but also a guarantee of long-term security against the Russian threat. This strategic orientation has become one of the main pillars of Kyiv's foreign policy since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022.

This announcement, however, comes amid heightened tensions with Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday that he currently saw no reason to engage in direct talks with Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing Kyiv of carrying out strikes against civilian targets. Despite these persistent tensions, Ukraine continues to accelerate its rapprochement with major Western institutions, hoping to secure its future within Europe.