European Commission President: Association Agreement with Ukraine Needs to Be Deepened

Russia cannot freeze Ukraine’s integration into NATO and the EU as the Ukrainian people have to determine their future independently.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen told French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche this in an interview.

She was asked whether the EU leadership feared that the Russia–US dialogue could stop Ukraine’s integration into NATO and the EU and affect similar prospects of other countries such as Georgia and Armenia.

“We deeply respect the sovereignty of these countries, as well as their territorial integrity and ability to determine their fate. I know that the United States shares these principles. In other words, the Ukrainian people have to determine their future independently,” said von der Leyen.

She added that the EU’s support is reflected in the association and free trade agreements that “need to be studied and deepened to make trade more profitable for Ukraine, as well as for Georgia and Moldova.”

At the same time, the European Commission President stressed that Brussels had already prepared a package of tough sanctions against Russia. They will be used in case of Russian aggression against Ukraine. In this regard, European states are united and will act in concert with the United States and NATO.

According to von der Leyen, Russia must stop its provocations and realise the consequences of its actions.

Bohdan Marusyak