Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today asked the European Union to initiate special procedures to allow Ukraine to join the bloc immediately. Senior EU officials said a formal application for accession must be submitted and unanimously agreed by all member states to join the bloc. Officials also said the organization was preparing to allow Ukrainian refugees to live and work in the region for up to three years.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a speech on social media calling for immediate EU membership, stressed, “Our aim is to stand with all Europeans and above all we want to be treated equally. I dare say It’s a fair request and I believe we deserve it.”
In response to Zelensky’s request, European Council President Charles Michel responded that “there are various opinions and sensitivities within the EU regarding the expansion of the organization”.
He also said that Kyiv must submit a formal application for accession, which must be unanimously agreed by all member states, before it can join the EU.
On the other hand, EU and French officials pointed out that following the Russian invasion, at least 300,000 people from Ukraine have poured into the EU, and the EU needs to prepare to welcome millions of refugees.
Responsible editor: Yu Weining