Zelensky called on the EU to set a course for full «independence from Russia»

President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. File photoMOSCOW, Oct 8Volodymyr Zelensky, during a speech at the Montenegrin Security Forum, called on the EU countries and in particular the Balkans to start a course of «independence from Russia» in politics, economics and energy, strengthening their cooperation, a video message was published on Saturday on the Telegram channel. »All States Europe must dismantle any Russian networks of influence to prevent the spread of disinformation, corruption and criminal politics.For the Balkans, this is no less important than for our part of Europe.Therefore, everyone must achieve complete independence from Russia, so that it cannot turn dependence on it into chains — economic dependencies, energy, political — any,» Zelensky said during a video speech. He noted that the countries of the European region should strengthen alliances and cooperation, while getting rid of all types of dependence on Russia. Zelensky focused on Kyiv's proposals for updating the security architecture of Ukraine and Europe, presented in project called «Kyiv security compact» (Kyiv security compact), which, in his opinion, can become a fundamental prerequisite for peace in the east of Europe. At the same time, he noted that given the «intensity of the war», the Ukrainian army needs large volumes of arms supplies. Volodymyr Zelensky's office published on September 13 a project on guaranteeing the security of Ukraine, Kyiv offers the EU countries, the United States, Britain, Australia and Turkey as guarantors. According to Medvedev, this is almost the same as applying Article 5 of the North Atlantic Pact (Washington Treaty) to Ukraine. Article 5 states that if one NATO member is the victim of an armed attack, all other Alliance members will consider this act of violence an armed attack against all NATO countries and will take such action as they deem necessary.«Этого у них еще не было»: какое оружие Пентагон пообещал Ukraine