EU backs Ukraine for membership

The European Union recommended that Ukraine and Moldova become candidates to join, a significant geopolitical shift as Russia’s invasion presses on.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wore Ukrainian colors – a yellow blazer over a blue blouse – at the press conference Friday.

"In the view of the Commission, Ukraine has clearly demonstrated the country's aspiration and the country's determination to live up to European values and standards,” said von der Leyen.

"Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective," she added.

"We want them to live with us the European dream."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the EU and his citizens’ resolve for the development.

I commend the positive @EU_Commission Conclusion on 🇺🇦’s candidate status. It’s the 1st step on the EU membership path that’ll certainly bring our Victory closer. Grateful to @vonderleyen & each EC member for a historic decision. I expect the positive result from #EUCO next week.

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 17, 2022

“Precisely because of the bravery of the Ukrainians, Europe can create a new history of freedom, and finally remove the grey zone in Eastern Europe between the EU and Russia,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

The recommendation does not guarantee candidate status but reinforces the two former Soviet countries’ case going into the European Council summit next week, where they will vote on the issue. All 27 member states must unanimously agree to move forward.

Leaders of Germany, France and Italy also backed Ukraine for candidacy on Thursday.

The explicit support signals approval for the pro-Western direction Ukraine and Moldova have taken since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, according to Reuters. 

The recent announcements also highlight a new sense of urgency for Europe to support Ukraine in the face of Russian gains in its eastern front and send a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to The Washington Post.

Georgia, who also applied after the outbreak of the Ukraine war, was not recommended for candidate status until it meets further conditions.

Ukraine must now work towards meeting the Copenhagen Criteria, a loosely-defined set of required of candidates before it can begin negotiating for membership, according to CNN – whether or not the country has a functioning free-market economy, a functioning, inclusive democracy and institutions that can uphold “European values.”