Western military assistance and a clear perspective on the possible European Union (EU) membership are among the main points Ukraine will discuss at the upcoming European Partnership summit in Latvia, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystayko said at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, according to RIA Novosti.
"What we want from Riga Summit... political support, which thank to all of you, we are already having," Prystayko told the audience on Jan.30, adding that Ukraine also needs financial support as well as keep sanctions on Russia. "Military technical assistance... We have to have that military equipment to be able to protect our own borders, our sovereignty."
Prystayko also stressed that Ukraine needs to have a clear understanding on the country's membership in the EU.
"We have to be given a clear perspective of membership," he concluded.
In September, Ukraine and the EU parliament ratified the economic and political parts of the Association Agreement. Moscow has repeatedly stated that the implementation of the agreement carries economic risks for Russian-Ukrainian relations, and could trigger an uncontrolled flow of duty-free goods from Europe, forcing Russia to protect its market.
The Eastern Partnership summit is scheduled to take place in Riga on May 21-22 as Latvia, for the first time, holds presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Eastern Partnership initiative was launched in 2009 between the EU and the eastern European partner countries. It serves to strengthen political, economic and cultural ties between the EU and partner states.