Ursula von der Leyen says EU will decide on Ukraine membership next week

Bloc leader holds joint news conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky after making surprise Kyiv trip

Conflicts 09:07 12.06.2022
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a surprise visit to Kyiv that the EU executive's opinion on the country's request to join the European Union would be ready by the end of next week.
 
In a joint news conference, Ms von der Leyen said Saturday's discussions with Mr Zelenskyy "will enable us to finalise our assessment by the end of next week," about whether to recommend Ukraine as a candidate for membership.
 
The move, whose timing was widely expected, would only be a preliminary step in a long process.
 
All 27 EU governments would have to agree to grant Ukraine candidate status, after which there would be extensive talks on the reforms required before Kyiv could be considered for membership.
 
Ms Von der Leyen, in her second trip to Kyiv since the start of the war in February, reminded Mr Zelenskyy that, despite progress on administrative reforms and elsewhere, much still needed to be done.
 
"You have done a lot in strengthening the rule of law but there is still need for reforms to be implemented, to fight corruption for example," she told the conference.
 
Mr Zelenskyy told the same briefing: "All of Europe is a target for Russia, and Ukraine is just the first stage in this aggression.
 
"This is why a positive EU response to the Ukrainian application for membership can be a positive answer to the question of whether the European project has a future at all."

 

Top Ukrainian Commander's Stepson Leads Pro-Russian Convoy in Sydney - VIDEO

News line

Arsenal keep up title pressure as Trossard sinks Manchester United
Arsenal keep up title pressure as Trossard sinks Manchester United
23:00 12.05.2024
7 killed in missile attack against Russia's Belgorod
22:05 12.05.2024
OSCE Chair-in-Office Ian Borg to visit South Caucasus
21:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expresses condolences to Afghanistan
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expresses condolences to Afghanistan
20:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijan's Parliament Speaker embarks on working visit to Uzbekistan
19:26 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani MFA expresses condolences to Brazil
19:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for May 13
Azerbaijan weather forecast for May 13
18:00 12.05.2024
Catalonia goes to polls in vote that will gauge support for independence
17:20 12.05.2024
Massachusetts man who received first-ever pig kidney transplant dies at 62
Massachusetts man who received first-ever pig kidney transplant dies at 62
16:13 12.05.2024
Fire destroys one of biggest shopping centres in Warsaw
15:49 12.05.2024
Border guards of Russia leave the border regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan
15:20 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani para-taekwondo fighter crowned European champion
Azerbaijani para-taekwondo fighter crowned European champion
14:55 12.05.2024
Top Ukrainian Commander's Stepson Leads Pro-Russian Convoy in Sydney - VIDEO
14:33 12.05.2024
Flash floods kill more than 300 people in northern Afghanistan after heavy rains, UN says
14:01 12.05.2024
Thousands protest against ‘foreign influence’ bill in Georgia
13:06 12.05.2024
Israeli military intensifies bombardment of Jabalia refugee camp
Israeli military intensifies bombardment of Jabalia refugee camp
13:03 12.05.2024
Ethiopian FM, Azerbaijani ambassador discuss COP29
12:20 12.05.2024
Swiss Vice Chancellor Andre Simonazzi dies at 55 while hiking
11:45 12.05.2024
Luka Modric set to depart from Real Madrid at season’s end
Luka Modric set to depart from Real Madrid at season’s end
11:00 12.05.2024
Lithuania voting in presidential election and citizenship referendum
10:23 12.05.2024
Russian Prime Minister to have 10 deputies
Russian Prime Minister to have 10 deputies
10:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani Deputy Defense Minister placed on reserve
09:42 12.05.2024
Swiss singer wins Eurovision 2024 contest - VIDEO
09:26 12.05.2024
Ceasefire in Gaza to happen after Hamas releases hostages - Biden
09:01 12.05.2024
Top Ukrainian Commander's Stepson Leads Pro-Russian Convoy in Sydney
01:10 12.05.2024
Shusha hosts 7th “Kharibulbul" International Music Festival
21:00 11.05.2024
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken Honors partner of IEPF Heidi Kühn - PHOTOS
18:00 11.05.2024
President, First Lady participate in opening of Kharibulbul Music Festival in Shusha
16:51 11.05.2024
Spanish Photographer Gervasio Sanchez Concludes Visit to Azerbaijan as Guest of IEPF - PHOTOS
16:00 11.05.2024
Head of UN NGO Branch to Visit Azerbaijan - PHOTOS
14:00 11.05.2024
Mbappé announces PSG exit ahead of likely Real Madrid move
13:23 11.05.2024
Former Armenian MP detained in Russia
Former Armenian MP detained in Russia
12:59 11.05.2024
Actions of disobedience resume in Yerevan and several Armenian regions
12:38 11.05.2024
Price of Azerbaijan oil drops
Price of Azerbaijan oil drops
12:19 11.05.2024
Azerbaijani and Armenian FMs to continue negotiations in Almaty today
11:55 11.05.2024
President Ilham Aliyev receives ICESCO Director General in Shusha
11:42 11.05.2024
Uzbek Representative IEPF Shukhrat Barlas Receives "100th Anniversary of Heydar Aliyev" Jubilee Medal - PHOTOS/VIDEO
11:25 11.05.2024
President: We never wanted war, and we don't want it today either
10:50 11.05.2024
Kharibulbul International Music Festival to kick off in Shusha today
10:35 11.05.2024
President of COP29 visits COMSATS headquarters in Pakistan
10:13 11.05.2024
Hamısı