Zelensky: It is necessary to create negotiating platform on the issues of de-occupation of Crimea

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Photo/President's Office/Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Josep Borrell

On September 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, the Office of the President of Ukraine (OPU) reports.

Zelenskyy thanked the EU representative for the visit, despite the coronavirus pandemic. During the meeting, key attention was paid to issues of peaceful settlement in the east of Ukraine and the situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

The EU High Representative was briefed on the security situation in Donbas and the progress in implementing the agreements reached during the Paris Summit in the Normandy format. The head of state thanked Josep Borrell for the EU’s continued support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Zelensky noted that during the trip of EU representatives to Donbas scheduled for this week, European officials will be able to see for themselves how the “silence” regime is observed, in what conditions the Ukrainian military serve and so on. The President stressed the critical importance of keeping the issue of de-occupation of Crimea in the focus of the UN and the EU. The question of creating a negotiating platform for the de-occupation of the Crimean peninsula was also raised.

“For us, the key issue is to create a permanent platform, which raises humanitarian issues, human rights issues, the issues of Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied Crimea and return of our occupied territory,” the head of state said.

Zelensky and Josep Borrell also discussed preparations for the 22nd Ukraine-EU Summit, which will take place on October 1 in Brussels. The President expressed hope that the Joint Statement, which will be adopted following results of the Summit, will properly reflect the level of ambitions of the parties to further deepen the strategic partnership and economic integration between Ukraine and the EU.

The parties also discussed in detail the progress of reforms in Ukraine, in particular, Josep Borrell congratulated Zelensky’s leadership in promoting such reforms as land reform, reform of the banking and non-banking financial sectors, fighting corruption and reducing the influence of oligarchs.

The President also announced the preparation of judicial reform and assured that the current Ukrainian government is most interested in building an independent anti-corruption structure and law enforcement system for the democratic development of Ukraine.

Josep Borrell: We interested in independent anti-corruption infrastructure in Ukraine, Ukrainian economy integration into EU internal market.

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