Ukrainian President says Ukraine could become EU candidate within weeks

Ukrainian President says Ukraine could become EU candidate within weeks
April 19, 2022, 6:15 am

Ukraine's president urges Europe to take a stronger stand against Russia (File photo: Volodymyr Zelenskiy official Facebook page)

The A news reported, citing Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy formally submitted a completed questionnaire on European Union membership to an envoy on Monday (Apr 18) and said he believed this step would lead to his country gaining candidate status within weeks.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen handed the questionnaire to Zelenskiy during a visit to Kyiv on April 8, pledging a speedier start to Ukraine's bid to become a member of the EU following Russia's invasion of the country.

Zelenskiy submitted the completed document to the EU's envoy to Ukraine, footage released by his government of the meeting showed.

The Ukrainian leader said during the meeting: "We strongly believe that this procedure (granting of candidate status) will take place in the coming weeks and that it will be p-ositive for the history of our people, given the price they paid on the path to independence and democracy."

Ursula von der Leyen (File photo: Facebook page)

The deputy head of Zelenskiy's office said earlier on Monday that he expected Ukraine would be granted candidate status in June during a scheduled meeting of the European Council, which comprises leaders of EU member states.

He added that the European Commission, the EU executive body, will need to issue a recommendation on Ukraine's compliance with the necessary membership criteria.

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It should be noted that as a candidate country, Ukraine would start negotiations on aligning its laws with the legal framework of the European Union.

Source: anews

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