The President of the European Commission arrived in Kiev this Tuesday for a “symbolic” visit to mark Europe Day, with the aim of “making preparations” for Ukraine’s accession negotiations to the European Union.
“My presence in Kiev today, 9 May, is symbolic, but it is also the sign of a crucial and very practical reality: the EU is working side by side with Ukraine in many areas,” said Ursula von der Leyen. to journalists on the night train that brought her to the Ukrainian capital.
This is von der Leyen’s fifth visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion, on February 24 last year, and it coincides with Europe Day, a celebration of the EU that is also being celebrated by Ukrainian authorities from today. , turns its back on the Soviet tradition of celebrating Victory Day against Nazism.
“It’s good to be back in Kiev, where the values we hold dear are defended every day,” the responsible person wrote on the social network Twitter, as Ukraine’s capital is “such an appropriate place to celebrate Europe . Day”. .
Good to be in Kyiv again.
Where the values we hold dear are defended every day.
So it’s such an appropriate place to celebrate Europe Day.
I welcome the chairman @ZelenskyyUa‘s decision to also celebrate Europe Day here in Ukraine on 9 May. pic.twitter.com/MEGOEFgyIq
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 9, 2023
With Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and other authorities in the country, von der Leyen hopes to “pave the ground for the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the Group of 27,” said the European Commission president. by news agency Efe.
The European Commission will prepare a preliminary report in the summer on Kiev’s progress with the reforms demanded by Brussels before it can start accession negotiations. A second, more complete analysis will be carried out in December.
Still regarding the war in Ukraine, German policy said: “We continue to step up the pressure on Russia. It is one of the points on which I will report to President Zelensky.”
And he clarified: “We are now focusing on the rigorous application of sanctions and taking measures to prevent them from being circumvented. We are committed to filling the gaps. There is no doubt about that,” the community leader said of what the 11th package of restrictive measures against Moscow since the invasion.
Other “important issues” von der Leyen wants to discuss with the Ukrainian leadership range from “the supply of ammunition and significant financial support to ensuring Russia’s accountability for its crime of aggression”.
Source: DN
