“Any restriction on our exports is absolutely unacceptable now because it strengthens the capabilities of the (Russian) aggressor,” Zelensky told reporters
THE Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the EU to speed up munitions deliveries and remove them “unacceptable” and “harsh” European restrictions in Ukrainian grain exports, with these requests addressed to the president of the European Commission, during the joint press conference.
Regarding the ammunition, Zelensky thanked Ursula von der Leyen for the European decision to provide “a million shells” but insisted on the need for them to be delivered more quickly. “We already need them on the battlefield,” he said.
Regarding Ukrainian grain, he brought the issue back to the table of European export restrictions.
“Any restriction on our exports is absolutely unacceptable now because it strengthens the capabilities of the (Russian) aggressor,” Zelensky said to reporters.
“We expect the EU to lift all restrictions as soon as possible”he continued, saying that the measures are harsh and protectionist in nature.
“In wartime, they can only disappoint”he said, thus targeting the five countries concerned – Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.
For several weeks now, there has been a tense atmosphere between Kyiv and these countries.
It is recalled that the 27 suspended in May 2022, for one year, customs duties on Ukrainian products and organized to allow Kiev to export its grain, as the invasion of the country by Russia paralyzed transport on the Black Sea.
At the same time, Zelensky called on the European Union to decide on the start of accession negotiations with Ukraine by welcoming the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to Kiev today, Europe Day. “The time has long come to remove the artificial political uncertainty in the relations between Ukraine and the European Union. The time has come to take a positive decision on the opening of accession negotiations.” he said.
On Zelensky’s sideUrsula von der Leyen she described the situation as “difficult”.
“The immediate priority now is to transit grain in a transparent manner and at the lowest possible price from Ukraine to the EU,” he said. “This requires very close cooperation between the different participants,” von der Leyen continued, announcing the implementation of a “coordination platform”.
We continue to do everything in our power to erode Putin’s war machine and his revenues.
@EU_Commission proposed an 11th package of sanctions.The focus is now on cracking down on circumvention, together with our international partners ↓ https://t.co/XjZR4VSeI6
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 9, 2023
Source :Skai
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