Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Stephen Sacker. Right now, Ukraine is involved in a fight for its future,

which takes literal form on the front lines of the war with the Russian invasion force, and is metaphorical when it comes to Kiev's diplomatic campaign to cement itself in Europe's institutional frameworks. My guest is a key

player in that diplomatic effort. Though still in her 30s, Olha Stefano Sina is one of Ukraine's deputy

prime ministers with responsibility for Euro-Atlantic integration. She's just been heavily involved in the symbolic

visit to Kiev by the leaders of the EU's three biggest countries, Germany, France and Italy,

on the eve of a key EU decision on whether to offer Ukraine official candidate status.

Now, that's a prize the Ukrainians seek with the same urgency that they

ask for more weapons and economic support. The Kiev government is about to learn a whole lot more

about the West's strategic vision of this Ukraine war and what an eventual peace should look like.

For all the rhetorical backing of Ukraine's fight for survival

and its right to a European future, are the words going to be backed with consistent action?

Well, Olja Stefan Ashina joins me now from Kiev. Welcome to Hard Talk.

Hello, Stephen. Thank you very much for joining us.

Now, over the last few hours, you have been heavily involved in hosting the leaders of France,

Germany and Italy in Kiev.

The meeting as we speak is still ongoing.

Does the fact of this visit give you hope that you're finally going to get the levels

of assistance from Europe that you say you need? Well, we have been very clear from the very

beginning that regardless the outcomes of the negotiations, which are in fact are still ongoing

for the third hour already between the leaders.

Regardless of these outcomes, this visit is already historical, and it will be historical,

not only because of their physical presence here, but also because the historical issues on the agenda.

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