The EU is expected to make Ukraine an official candidate for membership when it meets Brussels later today. Ukraine applied to the EU after Russia invaded in February. The process of full membership can take years.
Ukraine’s national anthem was sung today at the heart of the EU over a thousand miles away from the capital Kyiv but the European union now feeling a little closer. However, this is a country at war not in control of parts of its own territory no one knows how long the conflict will last but in Brussels Ukrainian officials say they’re determined to press ahead ready to carry out at least some reforms required by the EU even while the fighting goes on
“the real integration process will start when the war is over but in the meanwhile when we are talking about those recommendations I see the potential to implement if not but some of them are even now.” — Vsevolod Chentsov
but this is a family that isn’t easy to join leaders from the western Balkans testify to that
“North Macedonia is candidates in 17 years Albania since 8. So Welcome to Ukraine it’s a good thing to give that kind of status but I hope the Ukrainian people will not make many illusions about it.” — Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania
All the warnings that this is a long road without any guarantee of success are all true nevertheless this is still being regarded as a historic moment giving Ukraine candidate status. EU diplomats say wouldn’t have been imaginable not long ago.
The focus of Russia’s invasion remains Donbas the east of this country specifically the twin towns of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk we understand from the Ukrainians there’s been a stepping up in the weight of artillery barrages of aerial bombardment and the Ukrainians
are struggling to cope with it.
