EU-Ukraine summit sends “very sturdy sign” to Ukrainians and to Russia, says senior EU official
A joint European Union-Ukraine summit because of be held in Kyiv on Friday is “a really sturdy sign” of assist, a senior EU official mentioned in a briefing forward of the assembly.
Talking to journalists in Brussels this week, a senior EU official mentioned that holding the assembly in Kyiv throughout Russia’s invasion “is a sign to start with to Ukrainians, of assist, in particular person, being there.”
“It’s a sign, in fact additionally to Russia,” the official added.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Fee, arrived within the Ukrainian capital Thursday, alongside her commissioners, forward of the summit.
That is the twenty fourth summit between the European Union and Ukraine, however the first because the begin of Russia’s invasion and likewise because the European Council granted Ukraine the standing of candidate nation.
Leaders are anticipated to debate Ukraine’s progress in the direction of changing into a full member state of the EU, response to Russia’s continued aggression in opposition to Ukraine, additional assist for Ukraine and world meals safety.
The official mentioned that “the query as as to whether Ukraine will be a part of the European household has been decisively answered with a sure, it is not a query of if anymore.”
Nonetheless they didn’t wish to speculate on when this course of would conclude, as traditionally it takes years to turn out to be a full member nation of the EU.
A second senior EU official welcomed Ukraine’s current anti-corruption efforts, together with a current authorities shake up amid a rising corruption scandal.
“In fact, a lot work stays to be carried out on this and we’re working with Ukraine on that,” the official added.
On January 24, a spokeswoman for the European Fee mentioned that “anti-corruption measures are in fact an necessary dimension of the EU accession course of.”
