The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had a phone talk with President of the European Council Charles Michel.
At the beginning of the talk, the Head of State informed the President of the European Council about the tragic consequences of another missile and drone attack on Ukrainian cities, killing civilians, including children.
Zelenskyy thanked Michel for his unwavering support and leadership in strengthening the unity and solidarity of the European Union states with Ukraine.
The leaders of Ukraine and the EU discussed in detail the situation around the ban on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products by certain neighboring states.
Zelenskyy expressed deep concern about such decisions and emphasized that these steps are a gross violation of the letter and spirit of the Association Agreement and the founding treaties of the EU.
"The artificial and illegal restriction of trade with the European Union is hitting Ukraine, resisting Russian aggression, both economically and politically," the Head of State said. "I'm convinced that in the conditions of war with Russia, Ukraine as a candidate country and the European Union must always adhere to the provisions of the Association Agreement and the rules and regulations of the EU Single Market. Therefore, any alternative to the legal approach will not be considered a solution to the problem."
Zelenskyy called for finding a balanced solution and resolving the situation in a constructive and partnership manner, taking into account EU legislation, the Association Agreement, and the interests of all parties.
"The best solution would be to continue duty-free trade for an unlimited period. Such a decision is beneficial for Ukraine and several neighboring EU member states, which already have significant competitive advantages from the increase in Ukrainian exports, and their population gets access to cheap and high-quality Ukrainian products," the President of Ukraine said.
President of the European Council Charles Michel expressed his commitment to solving this unacceptable situation, including through contacts with some EU leaders involved.
Zelenskyy and Michel agreed on further contact on these and other issues.