Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva met with Secretary General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Anne-Marie Descôtes to coordinate positions ahead of the European Council meeting scheduled for October 23. The meeting followed a recent phone call between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of France Emmanuel Macron.
Ihor Zhovkva emphasized that Ukraine expects the European Council to adopt important decisions in support of our country. In particular, he referred to the introduction of a new financial instrument that would make it possible to direct frozen Russian assets toward Ukraine’s defense and recovery.
“We expect that the necessary political and legal decisions will be adopted and implemented without delay, as Russia once again shows no readiness for peace and, on the contrary, is intensifying its terror, including against our energy infrastructure on the eve of winter,” he said.
The parties also discussed the European Union’s sanctions policy. Ukraine expects the 19th sanctions package to be adopted soon and to include restrictions on the shadow fleet, as well as the Russian military-industrial and financial sectors. It should also introduce personal sanctions against those involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children and the spread of Kremlin propaganda.
Special attention was paid to Ukraine’s progress on its path toward EU membership. Ihor Zhovkva stressed that Ukraine has successfully completed the legislative screening stage, is fully ready to open the first negotiating cluster, and will be ready with the remaining clusters later this year. Both sides agreed that it is crucial for the European Union to find a solution that allows the negotiations to move forward.
Anne-Marie Descôtes reaffirmed continued support for our country on its path toward EU membership and in efforts to achieve a genuine peace. She also noted France’s interest in deepening cooperation with Ukraine, particularly in the field of culture.
In addition, the meeting addressed France’s priorities in the context of its G7 Presidency next year regarding support for Ukraine.
