Doubts over whether all EU nations support Ukraine joining the bloc

Lower than a day after Ursula von der Leyen mentioned she needed Ukraine within the EU, the truth of whether or not and the way shortly that may occur is starting to chunk.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, mentioned there have been “completely different opinions and sensitivities” amongst EU members on Kyiv’s accession.

“Membership is a long-standing request from Ukraine,” mentioned Michel. “However there are completely different opinions and sensitivities throughout the EU on enlargement.

“Ukraine will submit an official request, the European Fee must specific an official opinion and the Council will resolve.”

Michel indicated he had been knowledgeable of Ukraine’s intention to ship an official software for membership and defined the process to be adopted.

He introduced his intention to ask Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take part “regularly” within the summits of European leaders and insisted on the necessity to strengthen the affiliation settlement concluded between Ukraine and the EU.

It got here after Zelenskyy on Monday repeated his need to hitch the EU “immediately”.

“I am positive it is proper. I am positive it is attainable,” Zelenskyy mentioned.

On Sunday, von der Leyen informed Euronews: “We’ve got a course of with Ukraine that’s, for instance, integrating the Ukrainian market into the only market.

“We’ve got very shut cooperation on the power grid, for instance.

“So many subjects the place we work very intently collectively and certainly over time, they belong to us. They’re one in every of us and we wish them in.”