KIEV: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says member states face a “historic decision” at a June 23-24 summit on whether to grant Ukraine membership status. “I hope that in 20 years, when we look back, we will be able to say that we did the right thing,” von der Leyen told journalists on her way back from a visit to Kiev.
The challenge would be to emerge from the EU summit later in June with a unified position “that reflects the scope of this historic decision.”
Von der Leyen had travelled to Kiev earlier in the week to discuss with President Volodymyr Zelensky, among other things, remaining points of contention in Ukraine’s application for membership. The EU executive wants to publish its recommendation at the end of the week on whether the country, which has been resisting a Russian attack since February 24, should be granted EU candidate status.
Ukraine has achieved a lot in recent years, but much remains to be done, said von der Leyen on her way back to Poland.
“Our recommendation will carefully reflect that,” she added.
Von der Leyen said talks she held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday “will enable us to finalise our assessment by the end of next week” — the first time the bloc has publicly given a sense of timing.
Zelensky has pressed for rapid admission to the European Union, but officials and leaders in the bloc caution that, even with candidacy status, membership could take years or even decades.
Despite reservations among some member states, EU leaders are expected to approve Ukraine’s candidate status, though with strict conditions attached.
“Russia wants to ruin European unity, wants to leave EUrope divided and wants to leave it weak. The entirety of Europe is a target for Russia. Ukraine is only the first stage in this aggression,” Zelensky said, warning it was a “decisive time” for his country and the EU.
Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday, Zelensky highlighted the dangers of a food crisis posed by Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
He warned of an acute food crisis, adding that the “shortage of foodstuffs will inexorably lead to political chaos”.
Also on Saturday, Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday cited reports of Russians loading trucks with Ukrainian wheat and taking it to Russian-controlled areas.
Before the war, Russia and Ukraine produced 30 per cent of the global wheat supply, but grain is stuck in Ukraine’s ports and Western sanctions have disrupted exports from Russia.
At the summit, Zelensky urged international pressure to end the blockade, speaking to delegates including Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe, who on Sunday reiterated Beijing’s position on the crisis.
“On the Ukrainian crisis, China has never provided any material support to Russia,” he said, adding that it supported peace negotiations and hoped “Nato will have talks with Russia”. – dpa/AFP