The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, together with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, opened the first panel of the plenary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Ukraine.

"I am glad to welcome you to Kyiv. This is a historic day. For the first time, the ministers of the EU member states meet outside the current borders of the European Union, but within its future borders. I am convinced that this meeting will accelerate the European integration of Ukraine," said the minister.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized that every time the EU and its member states made unprecedented decisions, Europe won. He expressed gratitude for the decisive and unwavering support of Ukraine from the European colleagues since the first days of the full-scale invasion.

Dmytro Kuleba emphasized that today there is no more important goal than ensuring a convincing victory for Ukraine. “This war must end with a just and lasting peace according to President Zelenskyy's Peace Formula. This is a difficult task. But this is the only way to a free and peaceful Europe”, he said.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that there were many difficult moments on the way to the creation of the European Union, when the founding fathers of the EU and their successors could have given up, because the task was too difficult, too expensive, and its results were not guaranteed. But they moved forward despite all the difficulties.

"Jean Monnet once said, “Continue, continue. There is no future for the people of Europe other than in union". We need that mindset. If you believe in what you are doing, you will always find the strength to move forward. the Russian aggression against Ukraine cannot end in a tie. Aggression must be defeated. Those who guilty must be punished. Justice, freedom and dignity must prevail. We cannot afford skepticism, fatigue, unfinished decision, or withdrawal. So we continue, we continue: there is no other future for the peoples of Europe, other than in unity with Ukraine," he said.