EU leaders grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status

EU leaders accepted Ukraine and Moldova as membership candidates for the European Union at a summit in Brussels on Thursday.

European Council President Charles Michel described the decision “a historic moment” in a tweet soon after leaders took on board the European Commission’s recommendation.

Although this does not translate into membership anytime soon – some countries have been in this state for more than 10 years – the decision at a two-day EU summit is a symbolic step that signals the bloc’s intentions.

The move comes as Russian forces still wage war in Ukraine’s eastern regions, known as the Donbas. Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February and now occupies large swathes of land in Ukraine’s south and east. The war has displaced millions of Ukrainians and caused the death of hundreds, apart from widespread damage.

The EU leaders’ decision to grant Ukraine candidate status will anger Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has opposed Ukraine's attempts to move closer to Europe.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the move as “a unique and historic moment”.

“Ukraine’s future is in the EU,” he tweeted.

Granting EU candidacy to Ukraine sends a “very strong signal” to Russia that the bloc supports Kyiv’s pro-Western aspirations in the wake of Moscow’s invasion, French President Emmanuel Macron said afterwards.

The French leader hailed the move as a sign of “a strong and united Europe” in the face of Russia’s aggression against its neighbour.

The European Commission last week recommended that Ukraine and Moldova be granted candidate status but warned the two countries still had a long way to go on several fronts, not least the rule of law.