EU to Provide 1 Million Artillery Shells to Ukraine, Says Zelensky
Ukrainian President Urges EU to Start Negotiations on Membership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged the European Union (EU) to begin negotiations on Ukraine’s membership. Speaking at a joint press conference with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine’s combat capabilities are commensurate with Russia’s capabilities, proving that they can effectively defend themselves against Russian aggression.
Zelenskiy also expressed his concern about the restrictions imposed by the EU on the export of Ukrainian agricultural products, stating that any limitation on exports would strengthen Russia’s capabilities and is unacceptable. He proposed establishing a consultation group to monitor relevant issues and ensure that no trade-related decisions are made without Ukraine’s consultation.
The Ukrainian President expects the EU to remove all trade restrictions as soon as possible, and the meeting with von der Leyen showed political will towards this goal. Zelenskiy emphasized that it is time to remove the artificial political uncertainty in Ukraine-EU relations and take a positive decision on starting negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership.
The meeting took place on 9 May, which is Europe Day. Ukraine celebrated the day with a military parade showcasing their combat capabilities in the face of Russian aggression in the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
