On the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz. The leaders held both a tripartite and separate meeting.
During the tripartite meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz and President of France Emmanuel Macron, the leaders agreed on the need to continue active work in the Normandy format and to ensure the implementation of the decisions adopted by the four parties at the summit in Paris on December 9, 2019. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that this primarily concerns such urgent measures to stabilize the situation in the conflict zone as ensuring compliance with the ceasefire, mutual release of detainees, and the opening of two new checkpoints.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine does not give in to any provocations at the border, does not have any aggressive intentions towards other parties, and remains committed to diplomatic means of resolving the situation.
"I expect that Russian troops and weapons will be withdrawn from Ukraine's borders as soon as possible. So far, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, they remain near our borders," the President said.
The parties agreed on the need to continue active work in the Normandy format and to ensure the implementation of the decisions adopted by the four parties at the summit in Paris on December 9, 2019. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that this primarily concerns such urgent measures to stabilize the situation in the conflict zone as ensuring compliance with the ceasefire, mutual release of detainees, and the opening of two new checkpoints.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Olaf Scholz, and Emmanuel Macron agreed to make every effort to achieve real progress in stabilizing the situation in Donbas and called on the Russian party to resume constructive work in the Normandy format.
During the meeting with Macron, the Presidents discussed topical issues of Ukrainian-French cooperation, in particular the implementation of important intergovernmental agreements on joint economic projects reached with the support of the two heads of state.
The presidents also discussed the issues of European integration of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy commended France's ambitious plans for its presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2022 and expressed hope that the French presidency would pay special attention to the issues of Ukraine's security and countering Russian hybrid aggression in Europe.
The leaders coordinated their positions on the realization of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The Head of State noted that Ukraine's course for NATO membership remains unchanged, and support for this course in Ukrainian society keeps growing.
During the meeting with Sholz, Zelensky paid special attention to the energy security issues.
"We reckon on the support of the German party in maintaining gas transit through Ukraine after 2024," the President stressed.
It was also noted that Ukraine hopes to continue an intensive energy partnership with Germany in previously agreed areas.
Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the new German government would support Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic perspective and invited the Federal Chancellor to pay a visit to Ukraine.