It is unfair to tie the granting of EU candidate status to Ukraine's progress in the integration of the Western Balkans, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said.
"It is unfair to tie the granting of EU candidate status to Ukraine to progress in the integration of the Western Balkans. We fully support European integration of the Western Balkan countries, but each country deserves an individual approach based on its own virtues," Nikolenko wrote on Facebook.
He is convinced that granting candidate status to Ukraine and the Western Balkan countries is not contradictory.
"On the contrary, it should be a complementary process. The integration of Ukraine and the Western Balkans will only make the EU stronger and more prosperous," Nikolenko stressed.
The Foreign Ministry speaker stressed that Ukraine defends European values, peace and security of Europe at the cost of the lives of its citizens.
"We hear many words of support and admiration for the courage of Ukrainians, assurances of belonging to one European family. The moment of truth has arrived: the EU must show solidarity with Ukraine not only in words but also in deeds. It is in Europe's interests to look for solutions and not excuses," he said.
Earlier, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that granting Ukraine EU candidate status would be unfair to the countries of the Western Balkans.
