President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked for the Conclusions of the European Council of June 24 and noted the importance of recognition of the European aspirations of the associate partners by the EU leaders. At the same time, it is equally important to turn them into real steps and actions. He said this during his participation in the Batumi International Conference.
"Because if Brussels and the EU do not show iron support for the European aspirations of our three countries, then someone will show iron muscles of their weapons near our three state borders. And this, in my opinion, is a threat not only to our three countries, but also to the entire continent," the Head of State said. The President added that every country is important for the future of Europe.
In his opinion, proof that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have a place in the European future can be the provision of a European perspective to them as to the states that share common values in accordance with Article 49 of the EU Treaty.
"We want the territory of the European Union to become bigger. And for this choice, the territories of our three states, unfortunately, have become smaller. We know for sure that this is temporary. But this time period in many respects depends on you, dear Europeans, on your support. An example of this is the desire of the European Council to provide associate partners with a European perspective," the Head of State stressed.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the next summit of the Eastern Partnership countries is to take place in December.
"It is very important. But the lack of a strategic vision of the Eastern Partnership goals on the part of the European Union makes this format less substantive and half-alive. We do not need a summit for the sake of the summit. We have people dying, we have a war. We need a political content and a geopolitical vision of the future of this initiative. Otherwise, to be honest, the expediency of this is not clear at all. The next summit should show a clear vision of relations with the EU's closest partners," the President of Ukraine stressed.
The President added that Ukraine would support this initiative as much as it would contribute to the realization of European aspirations.
"I believe that we will reach the goal together. And together we will celebrate the addition of three sisters to the European family - Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova," Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.
President of the European Council Charles Michel noted that the Eastern Partnership is an excellent example of cooperation to overcome the challenges, in particular in the fight against the pandemic, to ensure economic recovery. He also noted that the European Union has offered a large package of investments for partners, in particular, investments are planned to upgrade road infrastructure. It is also about digital transformation in the EU partner countries.
