The 19th bilateral summit between the European Union and Ukraine took place in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on 12-13 July. In his introductory remarks, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, spoke about the cooperation between the two partners: “Together we have achieved a lot, but we are still only halfway down the road.”
“I am convinced that if you continue to be as determined, as courageous and as consistent as you were back then in Independence Square (Maidan), as you were during the battle for Ukraine’s integrity, if you can withstand the burden of reforms and not give up, then you will reach your dreams and goals,” Tusk continued.
“Today I can see clearly that you will not be defeated by an external enemy. You are too strong. You can only be defeated by yourselves,” he added.
Tusk went on to emphasise the importance of democracy and building a “modern state that is citizen-friendly, resistant to corruption, [and] respectful of the highest standards of public life”.
“If you pass also this exam, nothing and no-one will defeat you,” he concluded.
