Update
Strong words to the EU summit
Zelenskyj lands unexpectedly in Frankfurt
December 14, 2023, 5:07 p.m
The EU summit in Brussels is expected to decide on the possible start of accession negotiations with Ukraine. In a powerful speech, President Zelensky appeals to the Union not to “deceive” the people of Europe. A few hours later he unexpectedly arrives in Germany.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj made a surprise trip to Germany. According to police information, Zelenskyj visited the Clay barracks of the US Army garrison stationed there in Wiesbaden. The “intermediate stop” will “be over soon,” the Frankfurt police wrote on X. “There will be short-term closures again for departures from Germany.” The Ukrainian president was in Oslo, Norway, after a trip to Argentina and the USA, among other places.
In a video link at the EU summit, Zelensky had previously urged a quick decision to start accession negotiations with his country. “It’s not about what politicians need. It’s about what the people need,” said the Ukrainian president, according to the text of the speech published by an EU spokeswoman. This affects the people in the trenches, but also those who saved lives in Ukraine or helped ensure that children could learn despite the Russian war of aggression.
But a positive decision is also important for EU citizens who believe that Europe should not fall back into the “old days of endless fruitless disputes between the capitals.” “The people of Europe will not understand if Putin’s satisfied smile becomes a reward for the meeting in Brussels,” said Zelensky. “Don’t deceive people and their belief in Europe.” Today is a special day. “And this day will go down in history, whether it is good or bad for us.”
“Nobody wants Europe to be seen as untrustworthy”
The two-day meeting in Brussels will discuss the European Commission’s proposal to open EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. It is unclear whether there can be far-reaching decisions at the summit. The main reason is the blockade threats from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He had clearly emphasized several times in the past few weeks that Ukraine had not yet met all of the reform requirements.
Supporters of a positive decision, on the other hand, point out that the start of EU accession negotiations would be primarily a symbolic step, as the talks are likely to last for many years and Ukraine’s accession before the end of the Russian war of aggression is considered impossible.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine had passed the most important laws. There is a clear timetable from the EU. Europe must not fall into indecision, he warned. “Nobody wants Europe to be seen as untrustworthy. Or as incapable of making decisions that it has prepared itself.”