The Ukrainian Foreign Minister has taken part in the G7 summit in Germany

Kuleba reiterates Ukraine must obtain EU candidate status in June

photo_camera AFP/KAY NIETFELD - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba greets the G7 Group on his arrival.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on Thursday called for Ukraine to be granted candidate country status to join the European Union (EU) and expressed the hope that the decision will be taken at the next European summit on 23 and 24 June.

Kuleba stressed that such a decision "will define to a large extent the future of Europe," after meeting in Berlin with the co-chairman of the German Social Democrats, Lars Klingbeil.

"It is about anchoring Ukraine in the European integration project," he said, adding that "it is obvious" that candidate country status "does not imply immediate membership," but rather "legally anchoring" Kiev in the accession process.

Kuleba said that "the EU needs Ukraine as much as Ukraine needs the EU" and argued that public opinion in Ukraine and in the bloc is overwhelmingly in favour of accession.

He welcomed the fact that the German government's position has "moved in the right direction" since the start of the war in Ukraine, citing the decisions to send arms to Kiev and to support tougher sanctions against Russia as examples.

"There is a positive dynamic in relations, but we have to ensure that it is maintained, that we move forward and that the right decisions are taken," said Kuleba, who has been critical of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government in the past.

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Klingbei said that "Ukraine has done its homework" and said he was in favour of sending a clear political signal "that we want Ukraine in the European Union".

He recalled that "the questions of the European Commission have been answered", in relation to sending the second part of the questionnaire to apply for candidate country status, and noted that in June the Commission will decide whether to recommend to the EU to offer it.

Klingbeil stressed that "from social democracy" it is perceived that Kiev is fighting "for European values" and said he was convinced that it is necessary to "open up the prospect of accession" for Ukraine and for others.

Kuleba, who has come to Germany to participate as a guest at a meeting of the G7 Foreign Ministers in Weissenhaus (north), also met this morning with representatives of the Greens and at midday with the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz.

This afternoon, before travelling to Weissenhaus, he will also meet with the Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Robert Habeck.

Help for Ukraine 

The European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, announced Friday that Brussels will provide another 500 million euros to support the Ukrainian army.

"It will be around 2 billion euros in total," he said in Weissenhaus, northern Germany, where he is attending a meeting of Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers.

The "recipe" for the war in Ukraine is "clear" and reads "more of the same", according to Borrell, who summed it up as more support for Kiev, including military aid, and more pressure on Russia, through sanctions and Moscow's international isolation.

The head of European diplomacy ruled out the possibility of the 500 million euros being used to supply Ukraine with fighter planes, as the government of President Volodymir Zelenski had demanded.

Instead, it will be used to provide heavy weapons.
 

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