Zelensky announced 6 proposals of Ukraine to Trimorye member countries/Collage of Channel 24
On June 20, the 3 Seas Initiative summit began in Riga, uniting 12 EU states. Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke online at a meeting of representatives of the Trimorye member countries.
The President thanked for the invitation and voiced 6 proposals of Ukraine for cooperation and participation in the projects of the 3 Seas Initiative. Channel 24 broadcasts the details of Zelensky's speech.
Ukraine should become a member state of Trimorye
Volodymyr Zelensky began his speech by saying that Ukraine should become a member of the 3 Seas Initiative, calling it wrong that our state remained outside this association. According to the president, one glance at is enoughgeographic map of our region in order to understand that only with Ukraine will all participating countries be able to realize their full potential.
Economic, infrastructural, potential of social our countries, people and the historical foundations of life in our region,” Zelensky clarified.
What is the 3 Seas Initiative (Trimorye)
An international economic and infrastructure initiative that unites 12 EU countries located near the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas. In particular, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia and the Czech Republic. The first association summit was held in Dubrovnik in 2016, at which the participating states decided that in the future only EU member states will be able to join the initiative.
Strengthening cooperation
In the second paragraph, Zelensky proposed to strengthen the interpretation of cooperation within the Trimorye. The President noted that every area that can be jointly dealt with within the framework of this Initiative really concerns security and, above all, logistics.
The head of Ukraine called on the summit participants to look at the current situation in our state. He emphasized that it was the countries of Trimoria that became Ukraine's connection with the free world.
- supply of weapons and fuel;
- preservation of vital traffic flows;< /li>
- green corridors for the export of Ukrainian food.
All this, Zelensky noted, works through the territories of the participating states of the 3 Seas Initiative.
Trimorya was also destined to become an effective rear for any country in our region. If she too, God forbid, is threatened by Russia… When the enemy comes, everything matters – roads, railways, ports, power grid, speed at the borders and even the habit of working together. That is why our duty is to deepen all ties in this space. These connections are our security. – the President noted.
Energy
In the third sentence, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has one of the most powerful gas storage facilities in the region and an extensive network of natural resource supplies. Therefore, by cooperating with neighbors, using the capacity of interconnectors and existing LNG terminals, our state can satisfy the needs of all Trimorye countries.
The President recalled that after the full-scale invasion of Russia, Ukraine joined the energy system of the European Union, and now our electricity exports can become that contribution to the energy balance of the member countries of the 3 Seas Initiative, which will help them become completely independent from Russian energy pressure .
Transport infrastructure
Zelensky stressed that now everything must be done to make the trans-European corridor Via Carpatia work at 100%, connecting Northern and Southern Europe. Ukraine, in turn, can play the role of one of the logistics centers.
The President noted that our state is ready to join Via Carpatia right now, to integrate into the European railway network , in particular through the Warsaw-Kyiv line, and access to the Rail Baltica railway corridor. In addition, Ukraine will continue to work on expanding checkpoints on the borders of our state.
Digitalization
Zelensky’s penultimate proposal at the summit was Ukraine’s support for Trimorye infrastructure projects in the field of digitalization and strengthening regional digital ties. He noted that the Ukrainian experience, in particular, the fight against cyber threats, is truly unique and can be very useful for each member state of the Initiative.
Restoration of Ukraine
At the end of his speech, the President expressed the conviction that participation in the project for the restoration of Ukrainewill be the largest economic project of the current generation. Politicians often say that economic well-being is the basis of national security, and this, according to Zelensky, is true.
However, only now politicians have a historic chance to make the economy strong enough to make the state powerful enough. At the same time, the President noted, this chance will be used only when everyone works together.
Trimoria needs Ukraine's potential. We are ready, we want it. Ukraine is involved for the first time in participation in the 3 Seas Initiative summit. However, you know, while this war is going on, I can’t leave the state, which means I can’t be with you now, but I’m sure that you can now involve us in participating in specific infrastructure projects and find the status , which will allow us to take part in the activities of your initiative. I believe that this is possible,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.
