On 24 September FCO Director for European Political Affairs Tim Hitchens and Deputy Director of the Eastern Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland Anna Kostrzewa, with Ambassador Leigh Turner, met students of Taurida National University in Simferopol.

The aim of the meeting was to give a joint UK and Polish perspective on EU/Ukraine relations, including Ukraine’s membership aspirations, the Association Agreement and the Eastern Partnership.  About 100 students and members of staff attended the event.

Introductory comments from Leigh Turner, Tim Hitchens and Anna Kostrzewa focused on the importance of Ukraine to the EU and vice-versa; and the changes each new member brings to the European Union.  Students then delivered a series of astute and focused questions leading to a lively discussion on issues such as when Ukraine might realistically hope to join the EU; Ukraine’s foreign policy priorities; and the relationship between British, EU and Ukrainian legal systems.

Asked how best to overcome the economic and political challenges of Ukraine, Leigh Turner said: ‘You, as Ukrainians, are responsible for the future of Ukraine. You can decide where you want to get to, what you need to do to make this happen, and how you are going to do it’.

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