Macron, Scholz and Draghi held talks with Zelenskyy on Ukraine’s European Union membership
The President of France – Emmanuel Macron, the Chancellor of Germany – Olaf Scholz, the Prime Minister of Italy – Mario Draghi and President of Romania – Klaus Iohannis met the President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine, where they discussed exercising more sanctions on Russia.
Macron, Scholz and Draghi reached Kyiv on train from Poland. Before meeting Zelenskyy, they went to the suburb of Irpin, outside Kyiv, where Russian forces inflicted severe damage and were accused of serious human rights violations. They were joined by Klaus in Kyiv. The whole complex was sealed off, amid the intense security at the heart of power in a country under attack.
The leaders held talks on Ukraine’s European Union (E.U.) membership. The European Commission is expected to recommend by next week that Ukraine should be granted E.U. candidate status, a first step towards membership. There will be conditions on improving the rule of law and tackling corruption. Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to work to become a full E.U. member.
Macron said the European leaders were bringing a message of European unity and support for the Ukrainian people, to talk of the present and the future because we know the weeks ahead will be very difficult. Macron also announced France will donate 6 additional long-range artillery systems. Scholz invited Zelenskyy to take part in the G7 Summit later this month in Bavaria.
Thanking Scholz for the invitation, Zelenskyy tweeted,
Gratefully accepted the invitation of partners to take part in key international events: from 🇩🇪 Federal Chancellor @Bundeskanzler – in the #G7GER Summit, from NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg – in the #NATOsummit in Madrid.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 15, 2022
Extending continued support to Ukraine, Macron tweeted,
As long as necessary, until peace returns to a free and independent Ukraine, we will remain committed. Humanitarian, economic and military support to enable Ukrainian soldiers to make a difference on the ground against the Russian army’s attacks. pic.twitter.com/XN9dq9sUum
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 16, 2022
The leaders also said more weapons are being sent to Ukraine, including six more long-range Ceasar guns from France. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Defence Ministers are discussing further arms deliveries to Ukraine, which has been asking for long-range and heavy-calibre artillery. The United States (U.S.) has already announced to provide an additional U.S. $ 1 billion in security assistance to Kyiv and artillery, coastal defence and advanced rocket systems.
Besides, Kremlin Spokesperson – Dmitry Peskov said that it would be absolutely useless for E.U. to supply long range missiles to Ukraine as it will cause further damage to the country.
