Ukraine is ready to sign an agreement with the United States to establish an investment fund at any time. Its text has already been prepared and approved by the government, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reminded at the final press conference.
He said that the agreement would allow Ukraine to conduct business with the United States on a pragmatic basis. As you know, the signing of the document was planned for last week, but it was disrupted.
"This agreement has been approved by the government of Ukraine and we are ready to start this cooperation by signing the agreement at any time and further develop our cooperation," Shmyhal said.
He emphasised that Ukraine needs and asks for concrete security guarantees, and this is of existential importance for Europe. Shmyhal also said that the partners did not discuss the fact that Ukraine would have to make territorial concessions.
"Have there been any specific talks about Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence? There have been no such negotiations, I am not aware of them. But in the public sphere, we hear statements that Ukraine will have to cede some territories," he said.
Shmyhal noted that this is impossible. Ukraine's borders are recognised and fixed.
"We do not and cannot discuss Ukraine's territorial losses. We can talk about a peace plan, which will include some kind of step-by-step. It is possible. With the guarantees of our partners, with security guarantees, with Ukraine's membership in the European Union, NATO, and other strong security guarantees, we can talk about some kind of phasing. But there is no authority to negotiate that Ukraine will give up its territories. This can only be decided by the people of Ukraine, and I think that the people of Ukraine have a clear opinion on this matter," Shmyhal said.