The leaders of various European nations, Germany, Francy, and Italy, have visited Kyiv to express their support of Ukraine's potential EU membership amid its war against Russia.
The European countries have previously been viewed by Ukraine as providing support that was too "cautious." The Thursday visit brings hope amid Ukraine's continuous plea for more weapons to defend itself against Moscow's aggression.
Ukraine's EU Membership Potential
In Kyiv, air raid sirens blared as the visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi began. The world leaders toured a nearby town that was wrecked early in the war.
The leaders, after holding talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, signaled that Ukraine should be granted European Union candidate status. It is a symbolic gesture that would draw Kyiv closer to the economic bloc.
In a statement, Scholz said that Germany had taken in 800,000 Ukrainian refugees who had fled the conflict and would continue to support Ukraine as long as it needed. The official added that Ukraine belongs to the European family, as per Reuters.
Ukrainian officials said that on the battlefield, their troops were still holding out against massive Russian bombardment in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk. They also described new progress in a counteroffensive in the southern parts of the country.
However, authorities said that the battles on both main fronts depended on receiving more aid from the West, especially artillery to counter Russia's big advantage in firepower. In a statement after the talks with his European counterparts, Zelensky said that Ukraine appreciated the support that was already provided by its partners.
The Ukrainian president said that they were expecting new deliveries, primarily heavy weapons, modern rocket artillery, and anti-missile defense systems. He noted that there was a "direct correlation," which is that the more powerful weapons they get, the faster they can liberate their people and their land.
Consequences of the Russia-Ukraine War
According to the Washington Post, the three European leaders that visited Kyiv said that the trip was aimed at sending a "message of unity" and "unconditional support" for Zelensky and the Ukrainian people. In a statement, Draghi described the meeting as a "historic day in Europe" and noted that Italy "wants Ukraine in the European Union.
The Italian prime minister added that his country will support Ukraine at the next European Council summit that will be held in Brussels next week. The support comes as Zelensky noted that Ukraine continues to suffer "painful losses" due to its war against Russia.
Zelensky said, "The very course of European history has proved the correctness of the EU's positive responses to Ukraine's aspirations." He added that the support would strengthen freedom in Europe and become one of the key European decisions of the first third of the 21st century.
Despite the talks, Zelensky noted that it will take more to end the war, adding, "We touched on the theme of diplomatic efforts of various countries to achieve peace." The Ukrainian president added that everybody sees that the only obstacle to all of these efforts is the unreadiness of the Russian federation for real actions, for real negotiations, the New York Times reported.
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