Metsola hoped that Ukraine would be allowed to begin European Union membership negotiations this year…reports Asian Lite News
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Lviv on Saturday, in what is her second visit to the country since Russia’s invasion.
She promised him that cooperation between Kyiv and the EU parliament would “only grow stronger”, and said she hoped that Ukraine would be allowed to begin European Union membership negotiations this year.
Brussels granted Kyiv formal candidate status in June last year. It had applied just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion on 24 February.
In a Twitter post, Metsola praised Ukrainians as the “brave people who inspired the world” and “who sacrificed everything for our values”.
Zelenskyy also took to social media to thank Metsola for her “leadership in supporting Ukraine from the start of the war.
After the meeting, Metsola was taken on a walking tour of the city with the speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament.
Ukraine, Latvia sign declaration
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his visiting Latvian counterpart, Egils Levits, have signed a joint declaration confirming Latvia’s support for Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Zelensky’s press service reported.
The document was inked on Friday during the meeting of the two Presidents in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv. While speaking after the meeting, Zelensky highlighted the importance of the declaration and appreciated Latvia’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its movement towards membership in the EU and NATO.
For his part, Levits noted that his country would continue its support for Ukraine. “We will provide help for as long as it takes,” he said.
The parties also discussed ways to strengthen the Ukrainian army, the continuation of sanctions against Russia, Latvia’s participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine and other issues.
Blinken meets Ukraine’s Foreign Minister
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a meeting with Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba on Friday reiterated US commitment of providing support to Ukraine.
“Spoke with @DmytroKuleba today as we enter the second year since Russia’s full-scale invasion. I reiterated the commitment @POTUS made that U.S. support for Ukraine is enduring and will last as long as it takes,” Blinken tweeted on Friday. Blinken on Wednesday arrived in India to take part in the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Raisina Dialogue.
The Ministry of External Affairs is organising the Raisina Dialogue in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (URF) from March 2-4.
The conference being organised under the theme “Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest?”, will witness the participation of representatives from over 100 countries.
Blinken on Friday also met Argentina’s Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero. The two discussed the importance of protecting democracy, human rights, and food security.
“Good conversation with Argentine Foreign Minister@SantiagoCafiero at the G20 this afternoon. We spoke about the importance of protecting democracy, human rights, food security, and our shared commitment to a secure and prosperous hemisphere,” tweeted Blinken.
Both leaders participated in the ongoing G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the national capital, New Delhi.