Estonia sees Ukraine in EU - Zhovkva

20.05.2021 09:49

Ukrinform

Estonia has become the fourth country in the European Union to declare its intention to support Ukraine in gaining full membership of the EU, Deputy Head of the President's Office Ihor Zhovkva has said.

According to the presidential press service, he said this while commenting on the signing by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of a joint statement on priority areas of bilateral cooperation.

"The document states that Estonia has consistently supported the course for Ukraine's European integration, it supports the reforms that Ukraine is implementing along this path, and it is ready to help Ukraine meet membership criteria. As a result, Estonia has clearly stated today that it sees Ukraine in the European Union, and when Ukraine is ready to submit a membership bid, Estonia will certainly support such a bid," Zhovkva said.

He said the joint statement signed in Kyiv on May 19 had become the fourth document that reaffirms the support of EU member states for Ukraine's EU membership aspirations. Earlier, similar documents were signed by officials from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.

"Our European partners' support for Ukraine's European prospects is only growing," Zhovkva said.

In the joint statement signed by Zelensky and Kallas, Estonia reaffirmed its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the importance of cooperation in areas of common interest, including digitalization, he said.

On May 19, Zelensky and Kallas signed a joint statement on priorities of bilateral cooperation, which emphasizes Estonia's readiness to support Ukraine's future accession to the European Union.