Ukraine sets to move closer to joining the EU European Union membership as the Union has been given a major boost with a recommendation that Ukraine is granted candidate status, the first step toward the EU membership.
However, the European Commission said Ukraine must make reforms – on rule of law, oligarchs, human rights, and tackling corruption.
The development comes after four European leaders traveled to Kyiv on Thursday and publicly supported Ukraine’s admission to the bloc as the country battles Russia’s invasion.
"Ukrainians have shown they are ready to die for their European aspirations, Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said.
It’s Ukraine’s right to decide its path," says Ursula von der Leyen.
But she adds that although it is "up to the country", the EU’s expectations are very clear.
She said these include ensuring respect for international law as well as the need for certain reforms to be carried out as a condition of candidate status.
"Every sovereign country has the right to determine its future and to decide where to go and what to do," she says.
The recommendation on Friday from the EU’s executive arm will now be discussed by leaders of the 27-nation bloc during a summit next week in Brussels.
The summit will Launch accession talks that require unanimous approval from all member countries.
Meanwhile, Russian President Putin is about to give a speech at an economic forum in St Petersburg later as Russia reels under heavy economic sanctions by the West.
Although Ukraine says Russia is concentrating its forces on an assault on the eastern city of Slovyansk, fighting is continuing for control of Severodonetsk.
