Mateusz Morawiecki spoke about the summit’s agenda in an interview with state broadcaster TVP Info on Monday.
He said that the meeting of EU heads of state and government “will focus on Ukraine, but also other issues related to the war in Ukraine, such as the transport of grain,” Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Morawiecki added that Ukraine’s grain needed to be exported to the world “to prevent this potentially big wave of migration that threatens to come from Africa, from the Middle East, due to the lack of grain and the hunger that may break out in these regions.”
EU candidate status for Ukraine
Morawiecki told TVP Info that, after talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and the leaders of the bloc’s key member states, he was confident Ukraine had a chance to be given EU candidate status.
“Ukraine needs this hope that one day, in the not-too-distant future, it will be able to join the EU,” Morawiecki said.
He added: “The struggle in Ukraine is a struggle for our freedom, for our sovereignty, too. We are perfectly aware of this and so we act together.”
The two-day European Council summit is due to begin in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday.
It is set to call on Russia to unblock Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and stop stealing grain, according to officials.
EU leaders are also expected to pledge to continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine.
Last Friday, the European Commission recommended that the EU grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.
Tuesday is day 118 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, consilium.europa.eu