Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on European leaders to increase sanctions against Russia, to prevent it from replacing materiel lost at the front, while agreeing to ship more powerful weapons to the Ukrainian army. At the end of the historic meeting between the main leaders of the European Union, Zelensky insisted that "long-range Western missions can maintain Bachmut and liberate Donbass"
Both the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and promise more and more sanctions, but they will not be able to give him concrete expectations that Ukraine will soon become in a member of the EU in the medium term.
The day before, Von der Leyen had brought a delegation of 15 commissioners to Kyiv, to show at least political support for Ukrainian aspirations, but without implying that this country, which already has candidacy status, is free to have to follow the ordinary legal procedure, which involves years of negotiations in most cases.
Charles Michel, who represented the member countries in this case, publicly promised Zelenzki that "we will support you every step of the way towards the EU", but that has to be verified when each and every government ratifies it, which in this case it is far from possible.
Zelensky's optimism
Zelensky is much more optimistic, saying he hopes to start accession negotiations this year and that the catador will be able to join the EU within two years. In general, Eastern European countries, some of which border Ukraine, as is the case with Poland, are in favor of accelerated incorporation. In most cases, the western and southern countries believe that the normal process should be followed, which can take up to ten years and that is if the war ends soon.
Therefore, neither Von der Leyen nor Michel will be able to give any concrete guarantee that Ukraine will soon be able to become a member of the EU.
As consolation, Von der Leyen highlights the alliances that the EU has been able to offer Ukraine, such as membership in the European Political Union, designed precisely for the EU's neighbors, and its economic integration into the single European market. And he further applauded the “impressive progress” Ukraine has made on the roadmap for membership, for the “hopeful” fight against corruption.
