Kiev says dialogue with EU 'always difficult'
(Baonghean.vn) - According to TASS, a senior Ukrainian official admitted in an interview with El Pais that the country's exchange and dialogue with the European Union (EU) on financial support or sanctions has always been difficult.
Specifically, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina said that Kiev has been engaged in a long-term dialogue with the EU on various issues, including military assistance, sanctions or a reform agenda. She assured the Spanish daily that Kiev's commitment will not be weakened or affected by any bilateral issues that may arise. Kiev does everything possible to avoid tensions here, so the country has taken "a step towards depoliticizing the grain issue." She admitted: "This dialogue is always difficult when it comes to decisions on financial assistance or sanctions."
However, Stefanishina asserted that Kiev has completed all the necessary reforms regarding political criteria, “so if there is a positive assessment from the European Commission, the accession negotiations should start as soon as possible”.
“On the issue of the rule of law, we have completed the most important step, ensuring that an adequate level of trust is built in the institutions that have been chosen, together with Ukraine's allies, to shoulder the burden of integrity,” she confidently stated.
In the first quarter of 2023, Stefanishina said, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine “opened more than 2,400 criminal cases on corruption charges,… resulting in convictions of about 2,000 people.” That was 51.8% higher than the same period last year. In addition, the senior Ukrainian official added, assets worth about $19 million were confiscated.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Kiev will do everything to maintain US support.
