Phone Discussion Between Ukraine’s President and European Council President
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with European Council President António Costa, during which they covered several critical topics, including:
- Russia’s strikes on Ukrainian cities;
- Financial assistance;
- Schedule for negotiation clusters;
- Winter energy package;
- Ongoing support.
It was highlighted that the European Union is preparing detailed roadmaps for Ukraine and other candidate countries, alongside an expansion reform set to be unveiled on October 6.
EU’s Vital Support for Ukraine Amidst Conflict
During the conversation, Zelensky expressed his gratitude to Costa for his firm condemnation of the recent Russian attacks, which tragically resulted in 78 deaths and 215 injuries across cities including Pryluky, Kramatorsk, Kyiv, and others.
“This is a harsh Russian escalation — terror targeting civilians and life itself. It is crucial that leaders do not turn a blind eye to what is happening.” – Volodymyr Zelensky
The Ukrainian president also thanked the EU for the recent €1.2 billion tranche, emphasizing that these funds will be allocated to defense efforts, particularly the procurement of drones.
Costa invited Zelensky to join the upcoming EU summit to discuss Ukraine’s accession prospects. They also agreed to arrange a trilateral meeting soon between Zelensky, Costa, and Ursula von der Leyen. “Had a productive call with President Zelensky. I invited him to personally join us for next week’s EUCO meeting to discuss Ukraine,” Costa stated.
The dialogue further covered the timeline for opening the next negotiation clusters, preparations of the winter energy support package, and continued financial backing for Ukraine. The EU is drafting roadmaps for Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania, which will outline deadlines for closing negotiation chapters and specify necessary reforms — a process confirmed by a European Commission representative.
At the same time, no roadmaps are being developed for North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Kosovo. The format will also not apply to Turkey, Serbia, or Georgia due to stalled dialogues or political challenges.
Moreover, the EU is set to introduce internal reforms aimed at gradual integration of candidate countries into joint projects and the EU single market. This reform package is scheduled for presentation on October 6. According to a KIIS poll, one in three Ukrainians views corruption as the main barrier to EU membership.
The exchange between Zelensky and Costa underscored the EU’s crucial role in supporting Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression. Given the recent deadly attacks on civilians, issues of security and financial aid remain top priorities. Advancing Ukraine’s integration into European institutions and implementing forthcoming EU reforms represent key milestones on Kyiv’s path toward European integration, a strategic priority amid the conflict with Russia.
In light of ongoing discussions about Ukraine's strategic partnerships, it is important to consider the recent dialogue between Zelensky and Tusk, where they addressed critical issues such as Ukraine-US-Russia negotiations and energy security. For more insights on these vital conversations and Germany's new financial support for Ukraine, you can read more about it here.