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Zelenskyy asks EU not to play along with Putin in decision to start talks on Ukraine

Tuesday, 21 November 2023, 18:10
Zelenskyy asks EU not to play along with Putin in decision to start talks on Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy. photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the absence of a decision of the EU summit on the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union would be a victory for the Kremlin.

Source: Zelenskyy’s statement for the press after talks with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, which took place in Kyiv in the presence of Maia Sandu, the president of Moldova; European Pravda 

Describing the situation, Zelenskyy did not refute the possibility that the EU summit may refuse to open negotiations with Ukraine in December. 

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He stressed that Ukraine has done and will continue to do everything it can to meet the EU requirements, the so-called "7 criteria", which are a prerequisite for further steps. 

He also noted that the EU itself positively describes Ukraine's progress. "Today we are ready, and I see a positive reaction (from the European Union)," Zelenskyy said. 

The EU's refusal will have far-reaching consequences, Zelenskyy stressed. "I wish we hadn't played in Russia's favour. If there is no unification of Europe around such an important decision, then after such [a precedent], other decisions may "break" – on assistance to Ukraine, on sanctions pressure, on financial assistance... This is a big challenge for everyone, not just for Ukraine," the president explained. 

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However, Zelenskyy stressed that a negative decision has not been made in answering the clarifying European Pravda question. He also noted that there is concern not just about Viktor Orbán's position: "There is no problem yet. The elephant in the room can be anyone." 

"The main thing is for us to do what is planned. There are seven recommendations, we must fully live up to them so that there are no questions for us," Orbán explained the strategy of Ukraine. 

As it is known, Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian Prime Minister, publicly promised to block a positive decision for Kyiv. 

At the same time, Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, promises to do his best to achieve unanimity in support for Ukraine in December.

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