MainNews -

Ukraine needs EU candidate status now, during war - Zelenskyy

Russia planned the war as a prelude to the attack on united Europe.

Ukraine needs EU candidate status now, during war - Zelenskyy
Photo: president.gov.ua

Ukraine needs the status of a candidate for EU membership right now, during the war, with the abbreviated procedure for obtaining the EU membership.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed about this at the High-Level International Donors' Conference to support Ukraine in Warsaw.

"Because this war of Russia against Ukraine was planned as a prelude to the attack on united Europe. The more we are unified, the stronger is our reaction. That is why Ukraine's membership in the European Union should be an absolute reality. Not just promises, not just prospects, but practical steps ", - he pointed out.

Ukraine also needs sufficient financial resources in order freedom to win over tyranny and in order the citizens to have everything they need.

"The Ukrainian state, as the administrator of these costs, will cover all urgent needs - both defense needs, social and humanitarian needs," the President added.

He also announced the preparation of a large-scale Recovery Plan for Ukraine after the war. To do this, the state needs a strategic international support plan that will be a modern analogue of the historic Marshall Plan. It is money, technology, professionals and growth opportunities that are needed to return to a safe life, modernization and social development.

"It will be an investment in the stability of the whole center and east of Europe. The aggressor will realize that he cannot break the strength of Europe and all free people. Everything destroyed by the war should be rebuilt at a high level," he said.

Zelenskyy reminded that Ukraine suggested to its partners, civilized and responsible countries, to take patronage over those regions, cities and branches of Ukraine that have suffered from the war initiated by Russia.

To remind, on February 28, the fifth day of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an application for immediate joining the European Union under a simplified procedure. Such an application for Ukraine was initiated by Slovakia, and the decision to accelerate membership was supported by a number of EU countries, including Hungary.

On March 1, the European Parliament recommended а candidate status for Ukraine to join the European Union.

During her visit to Kyiv, Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, personally handed to Mr. Zelenskyy a questionnaire on joining the European Union. On April 18, Ukraine transferred it back to the EU.

After processing, Ukraine can obtain the status of a candidate country to join. The joining process can take years.

Ukraine expects to receive the candidate status this June

Read LB.ua news on social networks Facebook, Twitter and Telegram