EU Wants Ukraine Membership As Soon As Possible, Says Deputy Chief
NDTV
Ukraine War: Enthusiasm has grown for Ukraine's eventual EU membership in the wake of the Russian invasion among European lawmakers.
Ukraine's future lies inside the European Union and the country should become a member as soon as possible, the deputy head of the EU Commission said on Friday.
"Now it is time for a strong message. It is time for signalling that the Ukrainian people are one of the European peoples. We want them in as soon as possible," Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic said after a meeting of EU Europe ministers in Arles in the south of France.
Enthusiasm has grown for Ukraine's eventual EU membership in the wake of the Russian invasion among European lawmakers, after President Volodymyr Zelensky's impassioned plea to the European parliament this week.
But the country would still need to go through the same membership process as any other candidate, with no fast track route in prospect.