KIEV, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kiev expects its partners to support Ukraine's accession to the European Union (EU) next year.

"We are speaking about a concrete date -- 2027, and we count on partners' support for our position," Zelensky said on Telegram after a conversation with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker.

Zelensky suggested that Ukraine's potential EU membership could serve as one of its security guarantees.

Ukraine was accepted as a candidate for EU membership in June 2022. ■