On 28 February 2022, four days after it was invaded by Russia, Ukraine applied for membership of the European Union (EU). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested immediate admission under a "new special procedure",[2] and the presidents of eight EU states called for an accelerated accession process.[3]European CommissionpresidentUrsula von der Leyen stated that she supports Ukrainian accession, but that the process would take time.[2] On 10 March 2022, the Council of the European Union asked the commission for its opinion on the application.[4] On 8 April 2022, von der Leyen presented Zelenskyy with a legislative questionnaire,[5] which Ukraine responded to on 9 May.[6]
On 14 December 2023, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine.[12] Accession negotiations officially opened on 25 June 2024, at the same time as those with Moldova.[13][14] This signified another milestone in this country's ongoing efforts to align more closely with Western nations and diminish Russia's influence.[15]
If Ukraine becomes a member of the EU, it will be the fourth former Soviet country after Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which joined the EU in 2004.
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