and economic assistance still urgently required. well, my guest is one of ukraine s deputy prime ministers, olha stefanishyna. is ukraine getting the backing it needs? deputy pm olha stefanishyna, in kyiv welcome to hardtalk. hello, stephen. thank you very much forjoining us. now, over the last few hours, you have been heavily involved in hosting the leaders of france, germany and italy in kyiv. the meeting, as we speak, is still ongoing. does the fact of this visit give you hope that you re finally going to get the levels of assistance from europe that you say you need? well, we have been very clear from the very beginning that regardless the outcomes of the negotiations, which are in fact are still ongoing for the third hour already between the leaders, regardless of these outcomes, this visit is already historical and it will be historical not only because of their physical presence here, but also because the historical issues on the agenda. first and foremost, these are
partner of the eu. would that kind of compromise be acceptable? well, it doesn t look exactly the way you re putting it. in fact, just like minutes after macron arrived to ukraine, to kyiv and i saw him, his ministerfor european affairs made a formal statement confirming that france and president macron support granting ukraine candidate status, as well as the italian prime minister draghi, irish prime minister and of course, eastern european countries. and this is not something about like the reforms ukraine has been doing, it s the answer which should be given to ukrainian people who are dying now on the forefront of war, but also who have put in their lives and the revolution of dignity. and if for some reason this decision is not taken, while i m really positive about the necessity to take this decision, this would cause, of course, enormous frustration among ukrainian people. this would be immediately
poland from the eu to do that? you say poland cannot cope on its own. we can of poland cannot cope on its own. we can of course handle this. our neighhour can of course handle this. our neighbour to step back but can of course handle this. our neighbour to step back but you are askin: for neighbour to step back but you are asking for help. neighbour to step back but you are asking for help, though? - neighbour to step back but you are asking for help, though? the - neighbour to step back but you are| asking for help, though? the more financial assistance, asking for help, though? the more financial assistance, especially - financial assistance, especially from financial assistance, especially from the financial assistance, especially from the european union, that is our oint from the european union, that is our joint responsibility. you from the european union, that is our joint responsibility. joint responsibility. you are the minister for joint responsibility. you are