Zelensky: EU Membership is a Necessity for Ukraine

Kokcha News Agency – During a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron following the Leaders’ Summit of the Coalition of Volunteers, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated the critical importance of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

Zelensky stated that he discussed various issues with the participating countries, including ending the Russia-Ukraine war and providing security guarantees for Ukraine. “Twenty-six countries have committed to supporting Ukraine on land, sea, or air,” Zelensky said, describing this decision as “the first concrete step taken after a long time.”

The Ukrainian president also highlighted that nearly 60% of the weapons used by Ukraine are domestically produced. He stressed the importance of European cooperation in arms manufacturing, stating, “Supporting our army is crucial. We need weapons, training, and arms production.”

Invitation to Moscow:
Zelensky revealed that “our American partners informed me that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has invited me to Moscow.” While he acknowledged that Russia’s mention of a potential meeting is a positive development, Zelensky claimed that “Putin has no intention of ending this war.”

EU Membership as a Security Guarantee:
“EU membership is among the indispensable security guarantees for us,” Zelensky emphasized, adding that membership would mean not only economic security but also political and geopolitical stability.

He also touched on U.S. President Donald Trump’s dissatisfaction with European countries purchasing fuel from Russia, noting that Slovakia and Hungary share the same view as the U.S. on this issue.

Economic Pressure on Russia:
Zelensky pointed out that all countries in the Coalition of Volunteers agree on the importance of achieving peace and are actively working toward it. “We see no proposals for peace from Putin,” he said.

The Ukrainian president also commented on Putin’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in China, suggesting that Putin would use it as “a license to continue his war.”

Zelensky mentioned that new special tariffs against Russia are being considered, stating, “We must strip Russia’s war machine of its ability to produce weapons.”