The participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation in the Munich Security Conference demonstrated that against the background of Russia's aggressive actions, Ukraine's international partners clearly stand by Ukraine both in words and in concrete actions.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this in Munich during a direct communication with users of Facebook, according to the Government Portal.
"Yesterday and today I was asked: do I still see a window for diplomacy, can diplomacy work and stop the negative scenario. My answer is in the affirmative. Yes. We see what is happening on the front, what Russia is doing. But diplomacy continues to work. We have agreed with our key partners on steps that we will use to keep Russia on the diplomatic track," the minister said.
In particular, Dmytro Kuleba reminded that next week the US Secretary of State is scheduled to meet with the Russian Foreign Minister, as well as phone conversations between world leaders and the Russian leadership. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced the initiative to convene a summit of the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Ukraine, Germany and Turkey to discuss the security situation.
"I assure you that we will use every, even the slightest opportunity to keep Russia in the space of diplomacy, and our partners support us in this," he stressed.
At the same time Dmytro Kuleba reminded that Ukraine was ready for any scenarios: Ukraine is now stronger than ever. We continue to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and prepare for harsh sanctions against Russia.
The Minister listed a lot of diplomatic contacts held in Munich by the Head of the Ukrainian state. These include meetings with the Prime Minister of Great Britain Boris Johnson, the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, the Vice President of the USA Kamalla Garris, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Kirill Petkov, with whom President Vladimir Zelensky signed a declaration on the European perspective of Ukraine. This is the eighth such declaration, meaning that nearly a third of EU countries have already recorded a commitment to support Ukraine's application to join the European Union.
"Yesterday at all my meetings with my European colleagues and in a speech at a public event I said very simple words: 'Colleagues, it is time to give Ukraine a European perspective. To say clearly that Ukraine will become a member of the European Union." We need to do it now. This will be a clear signal to Russia: no matter what you do and no matter what provocations you resort to, Ukraine is a European state in all senses and will be a member of the EU," the minister stressed.
Dmytro Kuleba noted that this would also be a signal to Ukrainian people: no matter how Russia tries to turn back the history, Ukraine and Ukrainian people will be a part of the big European family.
Now is not the time for doubts. It is time to make a decision. A difficult situation cannot be resolved without difficult decisions. We urge partners to reject hesitations about Ukraine's future membership in the EU," he noted. The Minister said that Liechtenstein decided to join the Crimean Platform as a result of the negotiations and will become the 48th member state of this format.
The Ukrainian foreign minister recalled that he was leaving Munich for Brussels, where he would take part in an important meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday.
