Kuleba: Association Trio is about cutting Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia off from “Russian World”

Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia have a common past with the Russian Federation, but members of the Association Trio seek to build their future with Europe.

That’s according to Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who delivered a video message via Facebook following the Batumi meeting of the leaders of the Association Trio countries – Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

“The Association Trio is, in essence, about cutting our three countries off from the ‘Russian World,’ from all these ‘one people’ concepts. We did have a common past with the Russian Federation, but we will have a common future with other countries, not with Russia,” Kuleba said.

The top diplomat added that Russia, unfortunately, has compromised itself, so Ukraine cannot trust it.

“We have to build relations with it because it remains a political reality and we have to take care of our security, but the future of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia is in Europe. This is a key element, this is a milestone – for the first time will work jointly towards this goal,” the minister stressed.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on July 19, the leaders of the Association Trio members – Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova – met in Batumi with the participation of European Council President Charles Michel.

In the declaration following the meeting, the parties stated that accession to the European Union is a goal that unites the three states. European integration has no alternative for the Association Trio, and no one will be able to influence that choice, the parties stress.