Kyiv does not want "second-rate treatment" when it joins the EU

Created: 05/19/2022Updated: 05/19/2022, 13:00

Criticizes the ambiguity of "some EU capitals" in Kiev's EU prospects: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

© Olivier Matthys/AP/dpa

Ukraine is pushing for EU candidate status.

Anything else would "hurt the feelings of the Ukrainians," explains Foreign Minister Kuleba.

And accuses the EU community of having encouraged Putin.

Kyiv - Because of the Russian war of aggression, Ukraine is insisting on early status as an EU accession candidate.

"We don't need substitute EU candidate status funds that show Ukraine's second-rate treatment and hurt Ukrainians' feelings," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

more on the subject

Scholz promises Ukraine further support

"Ukraine Olé": National team wins emotional game

Woidke: Attack aimed at civilian population

According to Kuleba, the ambiguity about Kiev's EU prospects that has been pursued up to now by "some EU capitals" has only encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He was referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24.

The Ukrainian leadership also made its position on a possible resumption of peace negotiations clear.

Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Twitter: "Until Russia is ready to completely unblock our country, our negotiating platform consists of arms, sanctions and money."

Russian troops have occupied large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.

In addition, in 2014 Russia incorporated the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.

In negotiations that began shortly after the start of the war and are currently on hold, Moscow had demanded that Kyiv recognize Crimea as Russian territory and the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states.

dpa