A stable security environment based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is the main precondition for achieving the goals of the Eastern Partnership initiative, as stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his speech during a video conference of Eastern Partnership leaders.
According to the President, the main goals of the initiative are to strengthen democracy, implement reforms, rule of law and respect for human rights and freedoms.
"In my opinion, the European Union has not yet used its full potential for security on the European continent," the President of Ukraine said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded that the size of the occupied Ukrainian territory and the number of Ukrainian citizens who found themselves there are equal to the area and population of some European Union countries.
"I know it is believed that the Eastern Partnership is not a tool for resolving conflicts. At the same time, we cannot allow external players to further destabilize the situation in the region and create new and new hot spots," the President said.
According to the President of Ukraine, the emergence of conflicts in the territories of partners does not mean that socio-economic and security problems cannot spread to the European Union.
"Ukraine is able to contribute to strengthening stability and security in the region: to participate in missions, EU military and security projects, initiatives aimed at combating information and hybrid threats, misinformation and so on," the President said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that this was evidenced by granting the status of NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner to Ukraine.