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Leaders in Germany, France, Italy and Romania on Thursday pledged to accept Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for EU membership, and raised doubts about their position in the midst of Russia’s war against Ukraine. .
“All four support the status of immediate candidate for membership,” French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters at a joint press conference in Kyiv, where leaders had traveled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy . He spoke alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.
Scholz came to a similar conclusion: “Germany is in favor of a positive decision in favor of Ukraine. This also applies to the Republic of Moldova, “the chancellor said.” Ukraine belongs to the European family, “he added.
Scholz’s statement was particularly noteworthy, as the chancellor had been more reluctant to endorse a path towards accession to Ukraine or Moldova in previous comments.
It was clear, however, that some conditions would be attached to the candidacy for membership.
Scholz stressed that EU enlargement “is subject to clear criteria that must be met by all candidates”, calling it “especially democracy and the rule of law”. But he said that while accession candidates need to be reformed, there is an equal need for modernization on the part of the EU. “The EU needs to prepare and modernize its structures and procedures,” he said, referring to issues such as the need for unanimity in important decisions such as foreign policy, which has hampered the bloc’s ability to act. and decide quickly.
Leaders visit Irpin, Kyiv’s war district | Jesco Denzel / Bundesregierung via Getty Images
The EU is likely to call for strict requirements on democratic and institutional reforms, such as the fight against corruption, as part of the EU enlargement process. Ukraine is also likely to have to reach a peace agreement with Russia before talks with the EU can begin.
The European Commission is expected to officially recommend the granting of Ukraine and Moldova to membership on Friday, but it is up to EU countries to make a final decision. EU leaders will meet in Brussels next Thursday and Friday to discuss the issue.
Earlier in the day, European leaders had visited Irpin, a suburb northwest of Kyiv where Russian invaders destroyed buildings and allegedly tortured and killed civilians for weeks of occupation before Ukrainian forces drove them out.
They discussed the reconstruction of the city with Oleksiy Chernyshov, the Ukrainian Minister of Territorial Development. Standing in front of a graffiti-covered building that read, “Make Europe Not War,” Macron said, “It’s very moving to see that.” “We will rebuild everything,” Draghi added, speaking to the press during the visit.
In Irpin, Macron also said: “It is also a heroic city because it is here that, among other places, the Ukrainians stopped the Russian army coming down to Kyiv, so you have to imagine the heroism of the army but also of the Ukrainian People “.
Scholz added that Irpin is an example of “the brutality of the Russian war of aggression, which he simply wants to destroy and conquer” and of an ongoing invasion that continues “without regard to human life.”
A French diplomatic official told reporters that once the Russian war is over, a “dialogue” between Moscow and Kyiv will be needed “to find out how to build a sustainable peace”, with security guarantees for Ukraine and the nature of the relationship between Ukraine. and NATO.
This article has been updated.
Chris Miller reported from Kyiv.