Olha Stefanishyna: Ukraine has consistently proven that it does not let its partners down, honouring its commitments

On 4 April, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna delivered a keynote speech at the conference “Czech Republic in the EU: The Next 20 Years”, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the Czech Chamber of Commerce in Prague.

The conference was opened by President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel. Support for Ukraine and its future in the EU was discussed at a dedicated panel with the Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák.

In her speech, the Deputy Prime Minister recalled that the Czech Republic took over the presidency of the EU Council immediately after Ukraine was granted candidate status for EU membership, while at the same time fighting russia’s full-scale aggression.

“It was during your presidency that the most important decisions were made and the foundation was laid for the European Union’s powerful return as a major player on the world stage. I am very grateful to the Czech government and personally to President Petr Pavel for his commitment and constant support. And we are very pleased to see that, despite all the difficulties, we remain strong partners and allies not just in words but in deeds,” Olha Stefanishyna said.

She expressed special gratitude to the Czech Republic for mobilising military support for Ukraine, which is vital for Ukraine in the face of massive russian attacks.

“Our strong ties with the European Union and commitment to European integration have been a key element of our resilience and ability to survive throughout the war. With the decision to accept Ukraine’s application for candidate status and to start accession negotiations, the European Union has only grown stronger. The EU has become a true leader on the world stage, capable of resolving crises and withstanding global uncertainty, which has allowed it to mobilise unity within and outside the EU,” the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

According to her, after two years of struggle, Ukraine remains politically mobilised to carry out the necessary reforms on the path to European integration. Thus, during this time, a strong regulatory framework for overcoming oligarchic influence has been adopted and its compliance has been ensured. In addition, all the transformations needed to ensure the rule of law and strengthen the fight against corruption have been completed, demonstrating Ukraine’s commitment to its obligations.

Olha Stefanishyna also raised the issue of continuing trade liberalisation with Ukraine, which is the subject of discussions with some EU member states.

“We understand that war and aggression affect not only Ukrainians as a people and Ukraine as an economy and a sovereign state. Its consequences go far beyond Ukraine’s borders. It is very important that we work together to find solutions that will allow us to survive, both as a country and as an economy. And this is a functioning trade liberalisation,” the official said. “We are currently engaged in a very constructive dialogue with the governments of neighbouring countries to resolve issues related to tensions in the domestic markets. And this is how we see our dialogue and integration into the single market, seeking consensus every step of the way.”

In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed her gratitude to the Czech government for taking a constructive and open position, with the understanding that the issue of extending the autonomous trade measures is of vital importance to Ukraine.