Featured Image Credit: Twitter
Topics: Ukraine, World News, Russia, Politics
Tom Wood
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed an application for the country to join the European Union.
The move was announced as an ‘historic moment’ by the Parliament of Ukraine on Twitter.
The Verkovna Rada of Ukraine also shared a picture of Zelenskyy adding his signature to the letter, as well as a picture of the application itself.
Ukraine is currently in the fifth day of an invasion from neighbouring Russia.
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The President has called for Ukraine to be immediately accepted into the 27-country bloc.
In a video speech he said: “We ask the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession under a new special procedure.
“Our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. I’m sure that’s fair. I am sure we deserve it.”
Earlier today, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Ukraine is ‘one of us and we want them in the European Union’.
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However, despite that claim it is not clear whether Zelenskyy’s request for immediate admission will be granted.
Speaking to Euronews, Ms von der Leyen said: "We have a process with Ukraine that is, for example, integrating the Ukrainian market into the single market.
"We have very close cooperation on the energy grid, for example.
"So many topics where we work very closely together and indeed over time, they belong to us. They are one of us and we want them in."
She went on to say that trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin was ‘completely broken and eroded’.
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On the possibility of peace talks, which are believed to have taken place today, she said: "Of course, it is important that the Ukrainian side agrees to the peace talks and that conditions are fine for the Ukrainian side.
“In general, it is always better to have peace talks than to have a fight.
“But the trust in President Putin is completely broken and eroded."
Mr Zelenskyy is already thought to have told EU leaders ‘this might be the last time you see me alive’ during a call the other day.
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He has also announced that criminals with combat experience will be released to help the war effort against Russia.
Zelensky said: “We have taken a decision which is not easy from the moral point of view, but which is useful from the point of view of our defences,”
He also called upon anyone from other countries who are ‘friends of peace and democracy’ to travel to join the fighting on the Ukrainian side.
He said: “Anyone who wants to join the defence of Ukraine, Europe and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals.”