Zelensky: Eastern Partnership useful for Ukraine if it brings country closer to EU membership

The Eastern Partnership is useful for Ukraine if it brings the country closer to EU membership, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated at the Eastern Partnership video conference summit.

“The Eastern Partnership should not limit the ambitions of the partners. A political dialogue may be enough for someone, someone needs a strategic partnership with the EU, someone wants integration into the common market on the basis of the 'four freedoms', and others, like Ukraine, demand full membership in the EU," Zelensky said, Ukrinform.net reports, citing the president’s press service reported.

The Ukrainian president reminded that primarily the goal of the initiative was to build the EU community with partners who share European values and principles. At the same time, all citizens of the member countries should take advantage of such an association.

He also stated that it is possible to overcome current challenges together, in particular the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, by deepening integration and increasing coordination between countries, rather than by political self-isolation and protectionism.

"This meeting is a great opportunity to discuss further cooperation to overcome the current crisis and overcome similar challenges in the future. We are facing very difficult tasks: to protect the lives and health of citizens, to restore people-to-people and business contacts, to bring the economy out of the crisis trajectory,” he said.

Zelensky also thanked the European Union for its support, in particular for the new macro-financial assistance program worth EUR 1.2 billion, which is important and timely. In addition, according to him, Ukraine counts on cooperation with the EU in the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is produced

As reported, the Eastern Partnership video conference summit took place on Thursday, June 18.  It was attended by the heads of state and government of the 27 member countries of the EU, as well as the leaders of the Eastern Partnership member states - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.