Ukraine’s right to self-defense is independent of EU accession process, European Commission Spokesperson

Ukraine has an absolute right to defend itself, a stance that is independent of its process of joining the European Union, stated European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano during a briefing in Brussels on Tuesday.

Commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent announcement that Ukrainian forces control over 1,250 square kilometers of Russian territory and 92 settlements, Stano emphasized that Ukraine was engaged in a defensive war against a “brutal aggressor”, now in its third year.

“What we see on the battlefield, whether in Ukraine or Russia, is a direct consequence of Putin’s illegal actions,” Stano said. “Ukraine’s right to self-defense is unquestionable and has no bearing on its EU accession process, as these are parallel tracks between Ukraine and the European Union.”