EU leaders back immediate candidate status for Kyiv

International

17-06-2022, 08:57

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INA-sources

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania have backed Ukraine's bid to join the EU, saying it should be given "immediate" candidate status.

"Ukraine belongs to the European family," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a joint briefing in Kyiv.

But he added that Ukraine still had to meet the accession criteria in full.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the 27-member EU would stand by Ukraine until its victory against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russia's continuing aggression as a war "against the united Europe", adding that the "most effective weapon" was unity.

And he again appealed for more heavy weapons to be sent urgently for Ukraine to be able to defend itself more effectively and liberate territories seized by Moscow since the start of the invasion on 24 February.

Source: BBC