LAST UPDATE | 17 Jun 2022
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION has given its fast-tracked opinion on Ukraine’s bid for EU candidacy, deeming that it recommends “candidate status” membership for the country.
Never before has an opinion been given so quickly on EU candidacy, which must be approved by all 27 member states.
The opinion will serve as a basis for discussion at next week’s EU summit, where strict conditions will apply to Ukraine’s entry to the bloc, though membership may take years or even decades.
President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, stated that: “We have clear message, yes Ukraine deserves EU perspective, yes Ukraine candidate status. ”
We recommend to give Ukraine the candidate status, on the understanding that the country will carry out a number of important reforms.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 17, 2022
Ukraine has clearly shown commitment to live up to European values and standards.
And embarked, before the war, on its way towards the EU. pic.twitter.com/Cggme0Ep0l
“Ukraine has already implemented roughly 70 % of [EU] rules, norms and standards. Yet important work remains to be done, on the rule of law, oligarchs, anti-corruption and fundamental rights.”
The process is merits-based. So progress depends entirely on Ukraine,” she added.
Russia’s foreign ministry accused Brussels of “manipulating” Ukraine
“We see how for many years the Western community has been manipulating the idea of some kind of involvement of Ukraine in their integration structures,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed the development, saying in a statement: “If endorsed by the European Council, as I expect that it will, it will place Ukraine on a firm path towards EU membership, where it belongs.
“Every sovereign country has a right to determine its own future, free from external pressure and duress. The people of Ukraine have chosen a future in the European Union and they deserve our full support,” he said.
“It will provide a great boost to the people and Government of Ukraine who have stood firm in defence of our shared European values in the face of the most appalling Russian war. I hope that it will give them heart and courage in the weeks and months ahead.”
The Commission also approved candidate status for Moldova, but not for Georgia.
France, Germany, Italy and Romania are in favour of Ukraine receiving “immediate” candidate status, French President Emmanuel Macron said in Kyiv yesterday.
Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian premier Mario Draghi arrived in Ukraine by train and were joined by Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis before meeting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been lobbying allies for support.
“The most important message of our visit is that Italy wants Ukraine in the EU,” Draghi said at a joint press conference.
Scholz said Ukraine “belongs in the European family” and that Berlin would continue to send Kyiv weapons “for as long as it is needed”.
After meeting the visiting leaders, Zelenskyy said he explained “essential needs in the field of defence”.
“We are expecting new deliveries, above all heavy weapons, modern artillery, anti-aircraft defence systems,” he said, even as Macron said France would send six Caesar self-propelled howitzers to add to the 12 already deployed on Ukraine’s eastern front.
Zelenskyy promised Ukraine was ready to put in the work to become an EU member.
Boris back in Kyiv
A day after European leaders visited the Ukrainian capital, Boris Johnson has made a surprise visit to Kyiv to hold face-to-face talks with Zelenskyy.
It’s the British Prime Minister’s second visit to the city since Russia began its invasion in February.
Mr President, Volodymyr,
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 17, 2022
It is good to be in Kyiv again. pic.twitter.com/wbpMuf6YqY
A message on Zelenskyy’s Telegram account read: “Many days of this war have proved that Great Britain’s support for Ukraine is firm and resolute.
“Glad to see our country’s great friend Boris Johnson in Kyiv again.”
Video from the Ukrainian government showed Zelenskyy warmly greeting the Prime Minister with a “hi, Boris” as he arrived at the presidential palace.
Johnson tweeted a picture of himself with Zelenskyy, adding: “Mr President, Volodymyr, it is good to be in Kyiv again.”
The Prime Minister pulled out of an expected appearance in Doncaster for a conference of northern Tory MPs to dash to Ukraine.
Speaking on Wednesday, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that Britain will soon deliver multiple-launch rocket systems to Ukraine in response to its request for heavy arms.
London announced on 6 June that it would send Ukraine its Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, which has better range and precision than Russia’s artillery.
“I think it’s imminent, their delivery, and the munition has to go alongside”, Wallace told reporters in Oslo on the sidelines of a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force grouping 10 Northern European countries.
In addition to the multiple-launch rocket systems, Wallace said Britain was also considering sending Harpoon anti-ship missiles, which he said Denmark and the Netherlands had also promised.
’Dreadful mistake’
Think tank director Sebastien Maillard said he expects a positive opinion on Ukraine’s EU status, but with conditions and a deadline.
“This is a very delicate exercise for the Commission because it cannot be less demanding for Ukraine than for other countries for which it has given a favourable opinion in the past. Its credibility requires the maintenance of high standards,” the head of the Jacques Delors Institute said.
Russia has already “strategically lost” its war with Ukraine, suffering heavy losses and strengthening NATO, the UK’s chief of defence staff said in an interview published today.
“This is a dreadful mistake by Russia. Russia will never take control of Ukraine,” said Tony Radakin, the country’s highest-ranking military officer.
The admiral said Russian President Vladimir Putin had sacrificed a quarter of his country’s army power for “tiny” gains and was running out of troops and high-tech missiles.
“Russia is failing.”
Nuns survive under shelling
In eastern Ukraine, Russian forces edged closer to control of the twin cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk after weeks of battle.
Regional governor Sergiy Gaiday said today that airstrikes killed six in the area, including a mother and son, and that the number of shellings by the Russian army was growing daily.
Under near-constant bombardment by Russian forces, black-clad Sister Anastasia and a group of Orthodox nuns and pilgrims live in one of the villages closest to Ukraine’s frontline.
Entrance to the religious community, in the village of Adamivka near the city of Sloviansk, is only possible with permission from the Ukrainian military.
Their complex hasn’t had electricity for months, and its perimeter walls are pockmarked with shrapnel holes.
AFP journalists heard regular incoming fire from a few kilometres away, and soldiers said a cluster bomb had just fallen nearby.
Sloviansk was taken by Russia-backed separatists in 2014 but recaptured by Kyiv’s forces after a months-long siege.
“This is our home, we have nowhere else to go,” said Sister Anastasia.
Grain standoff
US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called on Russia to rapidly open Ukraine’s ports to permit the export of millions of tonnes of stockpiled grain.
“We shouldn’t be using food as a weapon,” Vilsack told reporters at the United Nations.
With global grain prices soaring and importers in the Middle East and Africa facing supply shortfalls, Moscow has demanded that economic sanctions on it be lifted in exchange for allowing the exports.
While Russia – the largest wheat exporter in the world – appears to be calling the shots in the grain standoff, experts say that its own agricultural sector is also bracing for tough times.
Yevgeny Shifanov, co-owner of an organic farm, says his business has felt the sting of Western sanctions and he is no longer able to sell his grain to Europe.
But the 42-year-old puts on a brave face, saying he is pivoting to ex-Soviet countries such as Belarus as well as domestic clients.
“We are more interested in our internal market, our economy,” he told AFP.
With reporting from the Press Association
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