PRESS RELEASE : EU membership is a priority for the Ukrainian state and our people – Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the meeting with Charles Michel in Kyiv
The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 20 April 2022.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the European Council Charles Michel who is on a visit to our country.
The Head of State stressed that Ukraine has already submitted part of the questionnaire to the European side to obtain the status of a candidate for EU membership.
“We are looking forward to the meeting, to the voting on this priority issue for our state. We expect great support from the European Union countries and personal support from President Charles Michel,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with media representatives following talks with the President of the European Council in Kyiv.
For his part, Charles Michel said that a decision on granting Ukraine EU candidate status is to be announced at the end of June. He expressed confidence that our country will gain strong support for its European integration course.
“The road to the European Union is the road to your future. And every day you demonstrate that you are fully committed to democratic principles and freedoms. You are fighting not just for the future of Ukrainian children, but for the fundamental values of Europe,” said the President of the European Council.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Charles Michel for establishing the Solidarity Trust Fund, which will help rebuild our state.
“We must unite efforts to restore our critical infrastructure, the infrastructure of our cities, our country, our villages, in particular, given the large number of displaced people in Ukraine due to this war,” the President said.
The President of Ukraine stressed that the work to restore the infrastructure of settlements should begin now, without waiting for the end of the war.
“People are living now, people are now using all this infrastructure, which is lacking,” he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the Trust Fund of Solidarity with Ukraine should become one of the main components of ensuring support for our country’s economy and its post-war recovery.
“We discussed the prospects of holding a relevant donor conference to launch this fund. Complex challenges require immediate action without delay. Our joint action. After all, only together we can and will overcome everything and succeed,” the Head of State said.
The President of Ukraine also noted that our country highly appreciates the initiative to establish the Solidarity Trust Fund, which was supported by the member states of the European Union and which should unite efforts to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure.
In addition, the parties discussed the technical details of mobilizing funds so that Ukraine can effectively respond to social challenges.
“We are all impressed with your leadership. By your personal example, you show the bravery of Ukrainians. We stand with you and we will do everything to support you so that Ukraine wins this war,” said Charles Michel.
