This Friday, July 1, a flag of the European Union was placed at the seat in Kyiv of the Ukrainian Parliament. It is located next to the yellow-and-blue flags of Ukraine.
This powerful sequence took place following the speeches of Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, and Ursula von der Leyen the President European Commission. These speeches were broadcast live to MPs.
After his country’s acceptance, Volodymyr Zelensky declared that “a new history of Ukraine has begun” “We are not more near each other, but we are together.
“We have completed a 115-day journey in order to attain Candidate status. Our journey to become a member of the EU should not take many decades.” The Ukrainian president stated that we should be able to get there fast. “Ukraine is fighting for its values and to join the European family.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of European Commission, told Ukrainian leaders and parliamentarians via video that Ukraine’s membership was possible. She urged them to accelerate anti-corruption reforms, and offer specific advices about justice and the need to reduce the influence of the Oligarchs.
Volodymyr Zelensky and Denys Shmygal, Prime Minister Denys Smygal and Speaker Ruslan Stefantchouk all signed a joint promise symbolizing the unity between the three branches in their efforts for EU membership.
Five days after the Russian invasion, Ukraine applied for EU membership. On June 23, the 27 Union members accepted his candidacy. The process will take many years due to the strict criteria regarding the rule of law as well as the economy of the candidates.
