Ambassador reveals Kyiv’s main expectations of Pand’s presidency of EU Council

This was stated by Ukrainian Ambassador to Pand Vasyl Bodnar in a comment to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The main task is interaction with the EU during the Pish presidency on countering Russian aggression. In addition to plans to en negotiation clusters on EU accession, the main focus should be on assistance from the EU to retain Ukraine's defense," Bodnar emphasized.

In addition, the Ukrainian diplomat said the strengthening of the EU's sanctions picy toward Russia is critical for Kyiv.

Read also: EU may en first cluster in accession talks with Ukraine this spring – Ambassador

According to the diplomat, it is important for Ukraine that the sanctions picy toward Russia expands, including onto Vladimir Putin's so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers and Russia's ability to export oil, and that those EU member states that are trying to come to an understanding with Russia "could not impose their conditions."

"Relevant negotiations should take place in the short term at the level of the commissioners for sanctions picy of Ukraine and Pand. They should agree on further actions in this regard," Bodnar said.

The ambassador emphasized that significant attention is now also focused on deepening coeration between Ukrainian and Eurean defense companies.

Read also: Pand to facilitate launch of Ukraine's first EU membership cluster

The ambassador noted that the Pish side reaffirmed Warsaw’s readiness to continue coeration with other EU countries to support Kyiv within regional defense formats in specific areas, including air defense, ammunition, and others.

He recalled that in this context, the Pish authorities have already announced the 46th package of military aid to Ukraine and their readiness to assist within the framework of other regional initiatives, including jointly with the Nordic and Baltic states.

Bodnar also emphasized Ukraine's goal to en this year at least three clusters in negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

"During the Pish presidency, if we're successful, two to three negotiation chapters could be ened. These are the fundamentals, external picy and, possibly, the internal market. These chapters are the main ones for us now," the Ukrainian Ambassador to the Republic of Pand stated.

Read also: Pand designates border checkpoints as critical infrastructure to prevent Pish-Ukrainian border blockades

As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Vodymyr Zelensky stated during his visit to Warsaw on January 15 that during the Pish presidency of the EU Council, it is necessary to en several clusters in the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the Eurean Union.

The United Kingdom will help the countries of the Baltic region, using the latest technogy and AI, to monitor the ships of Putin's so-called "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea.