On July 8, political consultations took place between Ukraine and the European Union at the level of Yevhen Perebyinis, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Olof Skoog, Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Political Director.

During the consultations, the parties discussed the security situation in Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression, diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and sustainable peace, as well as current issues on the agenda of relations between Ukraine and the European Union.

Yevhen Perebyinis emphasized the importance of further intensifying sanctions pressure on Russia by adopting the 21st package of EU sanctions, as well as holding Russia accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

The parties paid particular attention to Ukraine’s accession process to the European Union. The Deputy Minister emphasized that Ukraine’s strategic goal remains full membership in the EU, and that the negotiation process should continue to move forward in accordance with the merit-based principle, with all negotiation clusters opened.

As part of the political consultations, the participants also discussed coordinating cooperation between Ukraine and the EU with countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. The Ukrainian side emphasized the importance of working together with partners to counter Russian disinformation, strengthen global food security, and promote joint initiatives within the framework of cooperation with countries of the Global South.

In addition, the parties agreed on activities to be held on the highest level within the framework of Ukraine-EU cooperation in near future, as well as issues regarding the participation of the EU side in the celebration of Ukrainian Statehood Day and Independence Day of Ukraine.