Ukraine to inevitably become EU member, German political elites have simple choice - FM Kuleba

KYIV. May 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The process of Ukraine's European integration is inevitable and it will join the European Union sooner or later, while German political elites have a choice between leading this process or staying aside, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

As he was summing up results of a trip to Berlin in a video address on Sunday, Kuleba said he had "a very rational discussion" with German representatives regarding the Ukrainian admission to the EU.

"I told them a very simple thing. That will happen anyway. That's inevitable. Ukraine will receive a candidate status sooner or later, and we would like that to happen sooner and in time, at a EU summit in June. So, German elites have a very simple choice: they could either lead the process and write their names down in the history of Europe or that will happen just the same but without their [Germany's] participation," he said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Commission Vice President, European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis.

"We have discussed cooperation in defense and finance, as well as interaction on the Ukrainian path to membership in the European Union," Shmyhal said on social media on Saturday evening. "We appreciate the readiness of the European Union to give substantial financial support to Ukraine," he said.