EU leaders visit Ukraine after criticism, offer EU hope

• The leaders of Germany, France, and Italy dangled the prospect of EU membership to Ukraine.
• Ukraine is desperate for weaponry to fight Russia’s invasion.
• The leaders decided that Ukraine should be granted candidate status by the European Union after meeting with Ukrainian President

Ukraine’s Kyiv/Irpin On Thursday, the leaders of Germany, France, and Italy, who have all been chastised by Kyiv in the past for overly cautious backing, paid a visit to Ukraine and offered the prospect of EU membership to a country desperate for weaponry to fight Russia’s invasion.

As the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Olaf Scholz, and Italy’s Mario Draghi began in Kyiv, air raid sirens blared, and the leaders toured a neighbouring town that had been destroyed early in the war.

After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the leaders agreed that Ukraine should be granted candidate status by the European Union, a symbolic gesture that would bring Kyiv closer to the economic bloc.

Kyiv/Irpin, Ukraine On Thursday, the leaders of Germany, France, and Italy, who have previously been reprimanded by Kyiv for unduly cautious support, paid a visit to Ukraine and dangled the prospect of EU membership to a country eager for weaponry to fight Russia’s invasion.

Air raid sirens blared when French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian Chancellor Mario Draghi arrived in Kyiv, and the leaders toured a nearby settlement that had been destroyed early in the war.

The leaders decided that Ukraine should be granted candidate status by the European Union after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a symbolic move that would draw Kyiv closer to the economic bloc.

“We appreciate the help that partners have already provided, and we expect new supplies, especially heavy weaponry, contemporary rocket artillery, and anti-missile defence systems,” Zelenskiy said following his meeting with European counterparts.

“There is a direct correlation: the more powerful weaponry we acquire, the faster we will be able to liberate our people and our territory,” he explained.

Macron stated that France would increase weaponry sales to Kyiv, and NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels are anticipated to make similar promises.