Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded on Friday June 10 for Ukraine's entry into the European Union, calling not to leave his country in a "
grey zone
", while EU leaders must decide on by the end of June if they grant him official EU candidate status.
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"
The first thing is to finally remove this 'grey zone', so tempting for the Russian state (...) In the coming weeks, the European Union could take a historic step which will prove that words about membership of the Ukrainian people to the European family are not in vain
", declared the Ukrainian president by videoconference, during an international conference on democracy in Copenhagen.
The European Commission is due to deliver its opinion on the matter in the coming days, before EU leaders decide whether to grant Ukraine official candidate status at a summit on June 23-24. .
The European Union disagrees
“
Why, if polls show that 71% of Europeans see Ukraine as part of the European family, are there still political skeptics reluctant to allow us to join the European Union?
“, launched the Ukrainian president, very applauded.
“
Why, if Russia cynically literally violates all essential documents of international law, are there still some who are reluctant to block any relationship with such a state?
(...) The European system will lose if words are not accompanied by deeds
,” he concluded.
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The 27 are divided on the question of Ukraine's candidacy for the EU.
While many countries, mainly in Eastern Europe, support Ukraine's membership, some like the Netherlands or Denmark are skeptical, fearing that Ukraine is not ready.
Many discussions are underway to develop a common position.
If Ukraine achieves “candidate status
,” it will kick off a process of negotiations and potential reforms that could take years, if not decades, before it is on the verge of joining the EU.
Several EU states have dampened Kyiv's hopes of an
"accelerated" process.