Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this Tuesday that he thanked Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa for Portugal’s support for granting Ukraine the status of candidate for membership of the European Union (EU).
“I had a conversation with Prime Minister António Costa. I thanked him for Portugal’s support in granting Ukraine the status of candidate for EU membership. We agreed to use Portugal’s experience in our approach to the EU,” Zelensky wrote on the network. social Twitter.
Had a conversation with Prime Minister @antoniocostapm. Thanked for “s support for granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership. We agreed to use Portugal’s experience in our rapprochement with the EU #EmbraceUkraine
– Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 21, 2022
At the European Council on Thursday and Friday in Brussels, EU Heads of State and Government are expected to take a decision on the European Commission’s June 17 opinion, which recommends granting Ukraine candidate country status. , as well as Moldova.
On the same day, after the community executive’s recommendation was known, António Costa said that Portugal would accompany it, but also warned that EU enlargement would require a reflection on the “future institutional and budgetary architecture”, and said he hoped that everyone would be aware this collective path.
“This perspective of future integration, not only of Ukraine and Moldova, but also of the Western Balkan countries, requires a reflection on the future institutional and budgetary architecture of the European Union, in order to create good conditions for a strong, united EU. , capable of fulfilling its objectives and welcoming new candidate countries”, he defended.
Less than a week after the start of the Russian invasion, on 24 February, Ukraine formally presented its candidacy for accession, and, in early April, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, hand delivered, in Kiev, to the Ukrainian President the questionnaire that the Ukrainian authorities have completed and sent to Brussels, now eagerly awaiting the European ‘verdict’.
In March, Moldova and Georgia, two other countries that feel particularly threatened by Russia, also presented their candidacies, with the European Commission recommending that Moldova also be granted candidate country status, while Georgia considers that “further steps “.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine has already caused more than 15 million people to flee their homes – more than eight million internally displaced people and more than 7.7 million to neighboring countries – according to the latest data from the UN, which ranks this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).
Also according to the United Nations, around 15 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the international community in general, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing Russia of sanctions that affect practically all sectors, from banking to sports.
The UN confirmed that 4,597 civilians died and 5,711 were wounded in the war, which today entered its 118th day, stressing that the real numbers could be much higher and will only be known when there is access to fenced areas or under intense fighting.
FOLLOW ALL ABOUT THE WAR IN UKRAINE HERE