Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in Strasbourg, France on January 18.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Fee, in Strasbourg, France on January 18. (Philipp von Ditfurth/picture-alliance/dpa/AP)

A joint European Union-Ukraine summit on account of be held in Kyiv on Friday is “a really sturdy sign” of assist, a senior EU official mentioned in a briefing forward of the assembly.

Chatting with journalists in Brussels this week, a senior EU official mentioned that holding the assembly in Kyiv throughout Russia’s invasion “is a sign initially to Ukrainians, of assist, in particular person, being there.”

“It’s a sign, in fact additionally to Russia,” the official added.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Fee, arrived within the Ukrainian capital Thursday, alongside her commissioners, forward of the summit. 

That is the twenty fourth summit between the European Union and Ukraine, however the first for the reason that begin of Russia’s invasion and likewise for the reason that European Council granted Ukraine the standing of candidate nation.

Leaders are anticipated to debate Ukraine’s progress in direction of changing into a full member state of the EU, response to Russia’s continued aggression towards Ukraine, additional assist for Ukraine and world meals safety.

The official mentioned that “the query as as to if Ukraine will be part of the European household has been decisively answered with a sure, it is not a query of if anymore.”

Nonetheless they didn’t wish to speculate on when this course of would conclude, as traditionally it takes years to develop into a full member nation of the EU.

A second senior EU official welcomed Ukraine’s latest anti-corruption efforts, together with a latest authorities shake up amid a rising corruption scandal.

“In fact, a lot work stays to be executed on this and we’re working with Ukraine on that,” the official added.

On January 24, a spokeswoman for the European Fee mentioned that “anti-corruption measures are in fact an vital dimension of the EU accession course of.” 

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