European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travels today to Ukraine with other leaders for the summit in Kiev. Also present were Charles Michel, president of the European Council, and Josep Borrell, head of EU foreign policy. The fact that a “heavy” delegation travels to Kiev is sending an important signal, says PvdA MEP Thijs Reuten.
“We think Ukraine is important and the European Union wants to show support,” says Reuten. Whether the EU will live up to Ukraine’s expectations at the summit remains to be seen. Yet there is no country that attaches so much importance to European value, says Reuten. So such a delegation is a must here.
Expectations
There are some topics on the agenda that should lead to concrete things. Although Ukraine is not a member of the EU, access to Ukrainian export products must be guaranteed on the European market. Moreover, Ukraine is also likely to be included in the European payment system. “These are all things that mean something concrete to Ukraine.”
Planes
However, not all of Ukraine’s wishes are actually on the table. Reuten hopes the next steps towards Ukraine won’t be delayed too long. ‘I expect aircraft and long-range missiles will eventually be delivered. It is also in our own best interest not to let this happen again for months. So we start training pilots, for example, and we don’t waste precious time.’
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
