[Cyprus Times] Macron, Solts and Draghi say "yes" to Ukraine's EU membership

"Yes" Macron, Solts and Draghi to Ukraine's EU membership Zelensky calls for sanctions and weapons

The three powerful EU leaders said that they agree that Ukraine should be granted candidate status. At a press conference, Macron, Solts, Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Johanis declared their support for Ukraine, with the French president specifically stating that "All four of us support immediate EU candidate status."

Recall that Emmanuel Macron had said several times that it was unrealistic to start accession negotiations with Ukraine, and suggested that a different model should be adopted for Kiev.

#BREAKING France will deliver six additional Caesar long-range guns to Ukraine: Macron in Kyiv pic.twitter.com/0m1E1csbgv

- AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 16, 2022

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Ukraine is "ready" to work to become a "full member" of the European Union, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a press conference.

When will the EU decide

The European Union is expected to decide next week whether or not to grant Ukraine candidate status, the first step in a negotiating process that could last for years.

At the press conference, Draghi said his main message during his visit to Kiev was that Italy wants to see Ukraine as part of the EU.

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Scholz pledged that Germany would continue to support Ukraine as needed, describing Kiev's fight against the Russian invasion as "heroic."

Germany had taken in 800,000 Ukrainian refugees and was also supporting Ukraine economically and militarily, Scholz said, adding: "We will continue to do this as long as Ukraine needs our support."

Zelensky calls for weapons and sanctions

For his part, Zelensky reiterated he said Russia's invasion was tantamount to an attack on all of Europe.

The more weapons Ukraine receives from the West, the faster it will be able to liberate its occupied land, Zelensky said, adding that he proposed to the four leaders further sanctions against Russia.

Ukraine is grateful for the arms deliveries coming to help against the Russian invasion and expects to receive heavy weaponry, including modern rocket artillery and anti-missile defense systems, the Ukrainian president added.

"Every day of delay or postponement of decisions is an opportunity for the Russian army to kill Ukrainians or destroy our cities," he said. "There is a direct correlation: the more powerful weapons we receive, the faster we can liberate our people, our land."

France sends weapons

Emmanuel Macron said in a post that France would support Ukraine with economic, humanitarian and military aid to "enable Ukrainians to make a difference on the battlefield against the attacks of the Russian army."

Jusqu'au retour de la paix dans une Ukraine libre et indépendante, autant qu'il le faudra, nous resterons mobilisés. Soutien humanitaire, économique et militaire pour permettre aux soldats ukrainiens de faire la différence sur le terrain face aux attaques de l'armée russe. pic.twitter.com/TGRSdUU1ii

- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 16, 2022

Πηγή: in.gr

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