European leaders confirm Ukraine’s candidacy: a “historic moment” for Volodymyr Zhelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky continuesPhone marathon“We need to establish a full consensus with European leaders in favor of yes.

To the head of Ukrainian diplomacy Dmitry Kuleba, “Today marks the beginning of a long journey we are traveling together“, He said in a short video paired with his European counterpart Joseph Borel.”Ukraine will win. Europe will win“, He said on Twitter. Before adding:”The Ukrainian people belong to a European family. The future of Ukraine lies with the European Union“.

The Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander de Gru congratulated on Twitter.AA symbolic milestone in the struggle of Ukrainians for independence and democracy“, Before adding”But the beginning of a long and demanding reform process.“

Even Moldova

Moldova also gets candidate status.

This is the first time membership applications have been considered so quickly. A few weeks. Usually the process takes several years. But the situation is unusual. Ukraine is involved in the war. Moldova is directly threatened by Moscow and in both cases Russian troops have occupied part of the country.

Clearly, European leaders wanted to send a strong and symbolic message to these two countries. An obligation, according to French President Emmanuel Macron: ” For all of this we owe a debt of gratitude to the Ukrainian people who are fighting to protect our values, their sovereignty and their territorial integrity. I believe we owe it to ourselves to consider the political situation and instability in Moldova and the generosity it has shown. “.

This result marks the beginning of a long and complicated process towards access. Europeans do not want to avoid negotiations. They are long. Even too long. This may take 10 or 20 years, as many European leaders explain.

Georgia did not receive the status

Charles Michael said Georgia, which officially applied for membership on the same day as Moldova, would also receive candidate status when certain priorities are resolved. Council of Europe “Recognizes its European perspective“.