EU Ambassador spoke in Ukrainian and quoted Stus at the government meeting

EU Ambassador in Ukraine Matti Maasikas, a citizen of Estonia, spoke entirely in Ukrainian at a meeting of the Commission for the Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

"EP" reports. 

Thus, Matti Maasikas fulfilled his last year's promise to learn the Ukrainian language excellently.

"When I attended last year's meeting, I promised that I would speak in Ukrainian next time. Here I am fulfilling my promise," said Matti Maasikas.

The audience met his words with stormy applause.

The ambassador used the notes but delivered the entire speech in perfect Ukrainian.

Less than a year has passed since Matti Maasikas' promise. He announced it at a meeting with the government on November 20, 2019.

Maasikas also quoted Ukrainian poet Vasyl Stus during his speech at the commission.

"Sometimes these days there are voices in Ukraine and abroad that call into question Ukraine's strategic orientation and its European choice. The Association Agreement allegedly ties the hands of the Ukrainian economy. I can only say one thing. Ukrainian people know better. According to Vasyl Stus, there is no returning to the old, the past, the ancient," Maasikas said.

He added that "we continue to work on this chosen path for the future of Ukraine as a stable, democratic, and prosperous European state."