U. von der Leyen came for a visit to Kyiv

The head of the EC announced this on the X social network.

“It is good to return to Kyiv, where I am visiting for the sixth time during the war. I came to discuss Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, the EU’s financial support to rebuild Ukraine as a modern, prosperous democracy. And how we will continue to make Russia pay for its war of aggression,” she wrote, sharing a photo from a train station with Ukrainian President V. Zelensky.

Some time ago, the Ukrainian parliamentarian Yaroslav Železniak announced on his channel on the social network “Telegram” that U. von der Leyen must apply to the Verkhovna Rada.

Ukraine is currently waiting for the EC’s recommendation on the start of negotiations for accession to the 27-member EU. Recommendations are expected next week.

Several media outlets have already indicated that the rating should be positive. EU leaders will then have to approve the actual start of accession talks, probably at a summit in Brussels on December 14-15.

The previous time U. von der Leyen visited Ukraine in May and met with President V. Zelensky to discuss the EU ammunition supply plan and the future package of sanctions against Russia.

Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, and last year the country received candidate status along with Moldova. Sakartvelas, who also submitted an application, did not receive this status, as the EU member states stated that this country still needs to work.

Ukraine hopes to begin formal negotiations later this year on what needs to be done to confirm its membership.

U. von der Leyen told reporters on Saturday that “the most important message is the assurance that we will support Ukraine as long as necessary.”

The visit comes amid concerns that support for Ukraine may be waning as the world’s attention has been focused on unrest in the Middle East for the past month.

Ms von der Leyen said her trip had been planned for a long time and that it was a traditional visit before the presentation of a report on EU enlargement.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters this week that Kyiv was ready to meet its commitments to open EU membership talks, while U. von der Leyen acknowledged in September that Ukraine had made significant progress in its bid to join the bloc.

Currently, the EU is examining a new package of sanctions against Russia and a long-term 50 billion euro support package for Ukraine.

Further support for Ukraine is supported by almost all 27 EU countries, only Hungary and Slovakia have expressed objections.