Germany, France respond after Ukraine's EU membership bid

“We ask the European Union for the immediate accession of Ukraine through a new special procedure”, he said, speaking on his channel to Telegram, as fighting with Russian troops continued throughout the country. Our goal is to be together with all Europeans, and most importantly, to be on equal footing. I'm sure it's right. I'm sure it's possible. ”

The Ukrainian leader's call for immediate membership was a step forward from his weekend call for a quick decision on his country's EU aspirations.

It also came a day after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyeen declared Ukraine belonged to the EU. “They're one of us and we want them inside,” she told Euronews television channel.

But von der Leeyen does not have the power to grant EU membership to any country, or even grant formal membership candidate status. Such decisions must be agreed on by all 27 bloc member states, which have had sharp disagreements in recent years on EU enlargement, Politico writes, the Express broadcast.

Asked about Kiev's membership prospects prior to Zelensky's recent appeal, Charles Michel, European Council President ʹ the body that brings together EU national leaders, agreed there were various “opinions and sensitivity within the EU for enlargement”.

However, some Central European capitals are pushing for a signal that Kiev is at least on a path towards membership, even if the membership process usually lasts many years as potential members work to bring their societies, legal systems and economies closer to EU norms.

“Ukrains are fighting for their freedom and are protecting common European values. Express my strong support for Ukraine's EU membership perspective on our European family of democracies by granting Ukraine EU candidate country status”, Latvian Prime Minister Krishj finished on Twitter, Karikovı.

In an interview with POLITICO on Sunday, Slovakia's Prime Minister Edward Heger argued Ukraine should be given a “specific path” to the EU.

They fight for themselves, they fight for us they fight for freedom”, Heger told Ukrainians. We need to understand that they are protecting our system, our values and we have to be with them. So there's no time to hesitate about that. ”

But the heavy burdens of the EU, Germany and France, emerged on Monday to calm talks on Ukraine's membership in the bloc in the near future.

“Ukraina is part of this European house and we know that the desire of many Ukrainians is and was to have closer ties with the EU”, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at a press conference with her Slovenian counterpart, Anne Logar, in Berlin. .

But she added: “Everyone is aware, as yesterday the president of the Commission stressed, that EU membership is not something that can be done within a few months, but that includes an intensive and broad transformation process”.

A Elysée Palace official said France welcomes Ukraine's EU aspirations, but they should be part of a broader debate on the future of the bloc, including other potential members. “We must be careful not to make promises we cannot keep”, the official said.

Currently, five countries are official candidates for EU membership -- Albania, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey (the offer of which has been effectively frozen for years). Montenegro and Serbia have been in membership talks since 2012, and 2014, without any conclusions on the horizon.

The EU gave Albania and Northern Macedonia the green light for membership talks in 2020, but negotiations have not yet begun, largely because of Bulgaria's blockade of its language and history disputes with northern Macedonia.