A few weeks ago, the EU ambassador of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union Lars Danielsson told the journalists on the sidelines, to the surprise of the journalists, that the annual EU-Ukraine summit will indeed be held in Kyiv. Originally, the meeting, which was postponed due to the war from last year to the beginning of this year, was supposed to be held in Brussels.
Director of the Ukrainian Institute of World Politics Viktor Šlinčak tells that the change of host city is a symbolic gesture.
– It is important for European leaders to show support for Ukraine, but a visit to Kyiv will also improve their image within the country. In addition to this, they need to review how Ukraine has kept its promises after becoming an EU candidate.
On June 23, 2022, the EU countries unanimously approved Ukraine and Moldova as new candidate countries.
Today in Kyiv, a group of EU commissioners will meet their counterparts from the Ukrainian government. The president of the European Commission is scheduled for tomorrow Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michelin meeting with the President of Ukraine to Volodymyr Zelensky with.
EU membership as the most important topic
The leadership of Ukraine has revealed that the main topic of the summit is Ukraine’s integration into Europe and membership in the European Union.
Prime minister Denys Shmyhal said In an interview with Politico magazine (you will switch to another service)that Ukraine wants to join the EU on a very fast schedule.
– We have a very ambitious plan to become a member of the EU within the next two years. So we expect to be able to start preliminary membership negotiations already in 2023, announced Šmyhal.
Viktor Šlintšak considers the schedule given by the Prime Minister to be unrealistic.
– It is clear that Ukrainians like this kind of talk. But you have to understand that the joining process will not take two or probably even five years, no matter how much we would like this to happen sooner.
Šmyhal’s government colleagues also do not share the prime minister’s enthusiasm. On Wednesday, the Minister of Digital Development Myhailo Fedorov said in an interview with that he does not expect too much from the summit.
– I hope that we can synchronize with the EU how to proceed in the accession matter. We present the results, we hear feedback. This will be the next step on the road to the EU.
Last year, the EU prepared for Ukraine a list of seven conditions that the candidate for membership must fulfill before joining. They concern the reform of the judiciary, work against corruption, oligarchs and money laundering, as well as the reform of press and civil minority legislation.
The fulfillment of each requirement is assessed on a 10-point scale. Currently, the average rating is 5.8 points (you switch to another service).
Other integration issues are expected to be discussed at the summit. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleban According to
Military aid still continues
Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine Matti Maasikas has said (you are switching to another service)that the agenda of the meeting also includes issues related to military, economic and humanitarian aid.
The EU also wants to discuss the peace plan proposed by President Zelenskyi. Kyiv may want to discuss a separate international law intended for the Russian leadership.
– I believe that the latest threats of corruption in Ukraine will not affect the Europeans’ understanding that Ukraine is currently a shield for the whole of Europe, underscores Viktor Šlintšak, director of the World Policy Institute.
The Ukrainian leadership is satisfied that Germany has given permission to supply tanks to Ukraine, but next Kiev plans to ask the West for fighter jets.
– The West must understand: you will give us weapons anyway, sooner or later. So you’d better do it earlier, says ‘s well-known political reporter Serhii Ivanov.
You can discuss the topic until Friday 2.3. until 11 p.m.