A decisive step.
The European Commission has recommended that member states grant Ukraine candidate status for the European Union, the President of the European Executive, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Friday.
“The Commission recommends to the Council, firstly, to give Ukraine a European perspective and, secondly, to grant it candidate status.
This, of course, provided that the country carries out a number of important reforms,” the official told a press conference.
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“We all know that Ukrainians are ready to die to defend their European aspirations.
We want them to live with us, for the European dream,” added Ursula von der Leyen.
This opinion will be discussed at the European summit on June 23-24 and the leaders of the 27 EU countries will have to give the green light unanimously.
Long before this next step in the process, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already hailed a "historic decision" for his country on Twitter.
Ukraine is “ready” to work towards becoming a “full member”
Never has an opinion been given in such a short time on a request for candidacy, an emergency due to the war waged by Russia for more than three months and which is part of the support given by Europeans to Ukraine facing Moscow.
Paris, Berlin and Rome spoke out in favor of granting Ukraine "immediate" official candidate status on Thursday during a visit to kyiv by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the head of government. Italian Mario Draghi, joined by the Romanian President.
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Emmanuel Macron hails the "heroism" of Ukrainians
Ukraine is "ready" to work to become a "full member" of the Union, assured them Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.