Zelensky meets with G7 and EU Ambassadors to Ukraine

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04.02.2021 09:58

Ukrinform

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with the G7 and the European Union Ambassadors to Ukraine, the president's press service reported on Wednesday evening.

During the meeting, President Zelensky noted that since the last meeting in this format last year, some events have taken place in Ukraine that threaten the state system, and decisive measure have been taken to overcome these challenges.

In particular, he told the diplomats about the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of February 2, 2021 on the imposition of sanctions against some TV channels.

President Zelensky stressed that the sanctioned TV channels have long been actively used for disinformation campaigns in Ukraine aimed at undermining reforms and the country's course towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as promoting the hybrid influence of the aggressor state on political processes in Ukraine.

Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak added that sanctions against some media outlets had been imposed on the basis of strong evidence.

"Freedom of speech, freedom of work of journalists has been and remains a priority for the Ukrainian state," Andriy Yermak said.

President Zelensky stressed that nothing threatens the freedom of speech in Ukraine.

"Ukraine has perhaps the largest concentration of free broadcasters and media in the region," he said, adding that the Ukrainian authorities would act exclusively in accordance with the law.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to judicial reform and settlement of the situation that has arisen due to the decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. President Zelensky informed about further steps to reform the judiciary and prepare a Strategy for the Development of the Judicial System for 2021-2025.

Also, President Zelensky told about key achievements of Ukraine in implementing reforms. In particular, he noted the important role of the law on reforming the Security Service of Ukraine, which became a real step towards the implementation of EU and NATO standards.

During the meeting, the parties also exchanged views on the security situation in Donbas and the course of negotiations on a peace settlement.

As reported by Ukrinform, on February 2, President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the decision of the NSDC to impose sanctions against the NewsOne, ZIK and 112 Ukraine TV channels, as well as their owner, MP from the Opposition Platform – For Life party, Taras Kozak. The sanctions, among other things, provide for the revocation of licenses of these pro-Russian TV channels.