European Council President Charles Michel expressed that the European Union honors the viewpoints of Central Asian nations regarding the ongoing situation in Ukraine. He conveyed this stance during remarks at the EU-CCentral Asia summit, as reported by Reuters. The message was clear: the EU respects the position of every country in the region, recognizing the diversity of views and the importance of engaging with each partner on shared security and political priorities.
Michel emphasized his understanding of the historical and strategic relationships that Central Asian states maintain with Russia, noting that such ties influence their assessments and responses to the Ukraine crisis. The comments reflected a broader attempt to balance principled support for sovereignty and territorial integrity with pragmatic diplomacy aimed at sustaining regional stability and constructive dialogue across Europe and its eastern neighborhood.
Earlier, in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Michel outlined plans to pursue EU support for Ukraine in the margins of major international forums, including the G7. The dialogue highlighted Kyiv’s expectations for continued European integration efforts and the possibility of closer economic and political cooperation as Ukraine seeks to advance its prospects for EU membership by year’s end, subject to the appropriate reforms and alignment with European standards.
According to Michel, Zelensky thanked Kyiv’s leadership for ongoing judicial reforms and the robust battle against corruption. Ukraine also signaled its intention to present these anti-corruption efforts to the Council of Europe before the end of the year, underscoring a shared commitment to upholding rule of law and democratic governance as a cornerstone of European partnerships.
In his remarks, the European Council president also described conversations about EU assistance to Ukraine and the preparation of a multi-year macro-financial program. The aim across these talks is to ensure Ukraine has predictable, durable support to stabilize its economy, reinforce public institutions, and sustain essential reforms while the country progresses toward long-term European integration goals.