Any alternative to Ukraine's bid to join the European Union would be a “compromise” with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday in response to a plan for a “European political community” proposed by his French counterpart Mauron Emanuel. .
“We do not need alternatives to Ukraine's candidacy for the EU, we do not need such compromises,” Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa. “Because, believe us, this will not be a compromise with Ukraine in Europe, it will be another compromise between Europe and Russia. I'm absolutely sure of that. “It's the influence and the political and diplomatic pressure exerted by Russian officials and lobbyists on a European country 's decision to support or not to support Ukraine.” Macron unveiled his plan at 9 p.m. May in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, while the debate on the start of the accession process is underway.
The French president explained that it would take “decades” for Ukraine to join and in the meantime offered to in a “European political community” which could also include Britain and Moldova. The plan, to be discussed at an EU summit in late June, has been criticized by some leaders, including Lithuanian President Gitana Nauseda, who said it reflected Brussels' unwillingness to allow Ukraine to join the bloc quickly./p>
Sources: French Agency, ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
