Ursula von der Leyen says EU will finalise advice 'next week' on Ukraine's hopes to join bloc
Zelensky and Leyen
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen is on a visit to Ukraine. Herexecutive will finalise "by the end of next week" its opinion on whether Ukraine should be a candidate country to join the EU.
During her visit, shetold Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky"The discussions today will enable us to finalise our assessment by the end of next week."
According to Leyen, the ''European Commission is working day and nighton an assessment of Ukraine's eligibility as a possible candidate for EU membership.''
Describing the war as just a "first stage" in Moscow's plans,Zelensky saidRussia "wants to divide andweaken Europe."
Although officials and leaders in the bloc have cautioned that the road to membership is a long one, Kyiv has been pushing for rapid admission into the European Union.
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After Russia's invasion exposed Ukraine's geopolitical vulnerability, it has been trying to join the bloc.
According to Leyen, the discussions with Zelensky "will feed into our assessment" of Ukraine's readiness to be considered a candidate country to begin lengthy negotiations.
Ahead of a June 23-24 summit, EU commissioners and officials are expected to pore over Ukraine's bid next week.
During her previous visit to Kyiv since Russia's invasion, Von der Leyen said "Ukraine belongs to the European family".
She had represented the EU's 27 member states and handed out Zelensky a questionnaire his officials needed to fill out to provide details that would help inform the European Commission.
Expressing wariness about giving Ukraine a speeded-up candidacy process, some EU countries have pointed out the fact that other countries such as North Macedonia and Albania were already further along the candidacy path.
(With inputs from agencies)
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