EU access, air defense, and beyond: Ukrainian foreign affairs minister meets French counterpart
Photo: Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba met with his French counterpart Stéphane Séjourné. The latter arrived in Kyiv today, January 13, for an official visit. Kuleba disclosed the details of the visit during the joint press conference with his French counterpart.
They discussed:
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Kuleba expressed gratitude to Séjourné for comprehensive support to Ukraine, particularly in strengthening air defense. They discussed future deliveries of systems and missiles to protect Ukrainian airspace, including drones.
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Both ministers coordinated steps leading to the NATO Summit in Washington. They also discussed a calendar between January and the end of June for specific actions towards Ukraine's European Union membership.
"This calendar is very clear; we need to initiate the official screening of Ukraine, adopt a decision to approve the negotiation framework, set the date for the intergovernmental conference, and conduct the first intergovernmental conference. This matter fully resonates with my French colleague, and we have agreed that France will support not just the integration into the EU but adherence to specific timelines on this path," noted Kuleba.
- The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine thanked his colleague for supporting the adoption of a decision to create a Ukrainian fund in the EU amounting to 50 billion euros.
- They agreed to work on further engaging countries from Africa, Asia, and Latin America in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula.
- Discussed defense cooperation between the countries. They agreed to work on creating the most favorable conditions for interaction among defense companies in the legal sphere, particularly at the EU level.
- Raised the issue of frozen assets of Russia and the establishment of a special tribunal to punish the country as a terrorist state.
"We understand that there are certain legal constraints in both cases. However, we are ready to seek reasonable and balanced solutions to implement both of these initiatives," added Kuleba.
Visit of the French foreign minister to Kyiv
Today, on January 13, the new French Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, arrived in Ukraine for an official visit. According to him, Paris's assistance will be long-term, and his visit only confirms this commitment. It is also expected that he will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Initially, the visit to Ukraine was planned with former Minister Catherine Colonna; however, Séjourné was recently appointed to her position.
