French President Emmanuel Macron has cautioned Ukraine’s acceptance to join the EU won’t be as soon as we all may think
As the war in Ukraine enters its third month and pressure builds on the EU to accept the nation as a member state, French President Emmanuel Macron has given a glimpse at what may just be the stark reality.
Macron has stated will take decades for Ukraine to be accepted into the European Union,
In a speech to the EU’s parliament in Strasbourg, Macron instead suggested Ukraine could join a “parallel European community” while it awaited a decision to officially join the European Union.
By Ukraine joining the so-called community, it would allow other non-EU members to join Europe’s security architecture in other ways, Macron said.
Macron, who was recently re-elected as the leader of France after winning the election, made the statement as fighting in Ukraine continues.
Russia’s aggressive attack is continuing to hammer Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, where Russia is trying to take control.
A senior US defence official characterised the Russian advance as “single-digit kilometre kind of progress”.
A Ukrainian leader in the Luhansk region has since confirmed that “serious battles” were taking place.
Ukraine began the process of applying to join the EU in February this year, four days after Russia’s invasion.
During the same parliamentary session European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also addressed her colleagues, using her speech to express the EU’s commitment to Ukraine’s independent future.
Von der Leyen says Europe’s image of unity is far more powerful than any military parade in Moscow, following Russia’s recent May 9 Victory Day celebrations.
Zelensky’s virtual meeting with the EU
Zelensky’s virtual meeting with the EU
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky also held a video meeting with Ursula von der Leyen.
During the conversation, the President announced the transfer of the second part of the completed questionnaire to obtain the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union.
Zelensky noted that the second part of the questionnaire was passed to Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas.
The Ukrainian leader stressed that obtaining Ukraine’s EU membership candidate status is of great importance for the Ukrainian people and the country’s Armed Forces, which are continuing to defend their homeland against Russia’s aggression.
