Top EU officials visit Kyiv on their first day in office

On 1 December, on their very first day in office, the new Head of the European Council António Costa, together with the EU High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas and the new Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to demonstrate the EU’s “unwavering support to the Ukrainian people and its courageous struggle for a just and lasting peace”. 

This visit was also planned to mark the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence referendum, which took place on 1 December 1991.

At a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, António Costa, who previously served as a Prime Minister of Portugal, told journalists that this visit, on this particular day, had a very special meaning for him. “On the first of December, for almost 400 years, every single year, my own country celebrates its independence day: our national sovereignty, the right to self-determination, the right of territorial integrity and respect for its borders. Ukraine, like my country, like all countries in the world, has the same right under the UN Charter,” he said. 

António Costa added that the EU was preparing a 15th sanctions package against Putin’s regime and that starting from next month the EU plans to provide Ukraine €1.5 billion of assistance every month, for a full year. This money comes from the proceeds of Russia’s frozen assets and can also be used for military purposes. 

He also announced that the European Union and Ukraine will work to open at least two clusters of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU during the first half of next year.

“Already, gradual integration is starting in different policy areas, such as roaming, and a number of products across next year could be traded as if Ukraine is already in the Single Market,” Costa said.

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Press release