site.btaUkraine Aims for EU Accession Talks by June, Says MP

Ukrainian Member of Parliament Oleksiy Goncharenko spoke to BTA on Tuesday and expressed optimism that negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union will commence by the end of June.

In response to inquiries about Bulgaria's backing, the Ukrainian official expressed optimism regarding the continued support. He highlighted ongoing challenges with Hungary's stance but remained hopeful that negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union would commence by the end of June.

Goncharenko stressed that the ongoing process is a crucial step towards Ukraine's European integration and underscored the significance of rapid progress, which would prove beneficial not only for Ukraine but also for other nations involved.

He added that the West and Europe tried to establish security in Europe by positioning Ukraine as a buffer between NATO-EU and Russia. This strategy has not been successful. "All of Ukraine will either join the EU and NATO, securing our eastern border, or we will face ongoing issues and threats; this must be absolutely clear."

Goncharenko expressed gratitude towards the Bulgarian people for their support of Ukraine during the persisting conflict with Russia. He believes that it is not just Ukraine that is at risk. if Russia were to prevail, nations like the Baltic states, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Bulgaria could face similar threats.

The Ukrainian official noted that at the onset of Russian aggression, Ukraine harboured concerns about Bulgaria's support due to the longstanding strong Russian influence in the country. Those concerns were alleviated by Bulgarian support both politically and as a member of the European Union and NATO, and Ukraine remains very grateful for this.

Goncharenko expressed concerns over the remarks of the Bulgarian President, suggesting they do not represent the majority view in Bulgaria. He highlighted the consistent support Ukraine has received from other Bulgarian institutions such as parliament and the government and also mentioned Russian attempts to destabilize Bulgaria through influence operations.

Assessing military actions, Goncharenko reported Russia has few military victories in Ukraine, while highlighting Ukrainian successes in the Black Sea. He noted that the Russian Black Sea Fleet has suffered substantial losses, with one-third of its strength destroyed and its forces fully driven from the western Black Sea region. He remarked that Ukraine expected the removal of all bureaucratic obstacles to effectively use Western weapons.

Goncharenko expressed confidence in Ukraine's victory, emphasizing the broader fight for European security and shared values. He highlighted the importance of continued political and economic pressure on Russia. He also urged Bulgaria to maintain its support for Ukraine, underscoring the significance of solidarity among European nations.

He also asserted that empires no longer have a place in Europe, describing Russia as the continent's last colonial empire destined to collapse, preferably sooner rather than later.