The European Commission has backed Ukraine's bid to be given candidacy status to join the EU - bringing it one step closer to joining the bloc.
"Good work has been done" by Ukraine, but more is needed, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Ukraine must make "important" reforms - on rule of law, oligarchs, human rights and tackling corruption, she added.
Candidacy status is a significant step to joining the EU, however the whole process can take many years.
The recommendation from the European Commission still needs to be signed off by the EU's 27 member states, who meet to discuss it next week. The French, German and Italian leaders have already backed Ukraine's bid, but the decision must be unanimous.
Speaking from Brussels and wearing blue and yellow - the colours of Ukraine - Ms Von der Leyen said Ukrainians are "ready to die" for the European perspective.
"We want them to live with us in the European dream," she said, adding that Ukraine had shown its "aspiration and determination to live up to European values and standards."
But it is conditional - Ukraine has work to do, she said, to ensure international law is respected.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted that the "historic decision" would bring "victory closer".
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