European Union leaders have agreed to grant both Ukraine and Moldova the EU candidacy status in a show of support from the EU as part of their positions in the proxy war taking place in Ukraine. EU chief Charles Michel wrote on Twitter during a summit in Brussels, “A historic moment. Today marks a crucial step on your path towards the EU," adding that "our future is together."

Agreement. #EUCO has just decided EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.

A historic moment.

Today marks a crucial step on your path towards the EU.

Congratulations @ZelenskyyUa and @sandumaiamd and the people of Ukraine 🇺🇦 and 🇲🇩

Our future is together.

— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) June 23, 2022

The decision to grant the two nations EU candidacy puts the two ex-Soviet nations on the long path toward joining the EU bloc. A series of steps have been laid out by the EU for Kiev to take, including the reinforcement of the rule of law and fighting corruption.

Ukraine applied for the EU membership on February 28, shortly after Russia launched its military operation. It was followed by Georgia and Moldova, which decided to fast-track submission of their applications and similarly received the EU questionnaire in mid-April. 

Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine's accession to the European Union would be expedited.

Later, the EU Commission President gave the Ukrainian President a questionnaire that pushed the membership decision forward. Von der Leyen said, "It will not, as usual, be a matter of years to form this opinion but I think a matter of weeks." Zelensky submitted answers to two parts of an applicant questionnaire in April and May. 

As for Georgia, the EU has agreed to offer a "European perspective" but said the nation must carry out a number of steps before it can become a candidate.  

President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the EU leaders’ decision, on Thursday, to grant Ukraine official EU candidate status. He wrote on his Twitter account that is "a unique and historic moment in Ukraine-EU relations," adding that "Ukraine’s future is within the EU."

Sincerely commend EU leaders’ decision at #EUCO to grant 🇺🇦 a candidate status. It’s a unique and historical moment in 🇺🇦-🇪🇺 relations. Grateful to @CharlesMichel, @vonderleyen and EU leaders for support. Ukraine’s future is within the EU. #EmbraceUkraine https://t.co/o6dJVmTQrn

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 23, 2022

French President Emanuel Macron said that granting EU candidacy to Ukraine directs a "very strong signal" to Russia that the bloc supports Kiev's pro-Western aspirations. The French leader hailed the move as a sign of "a strong and united Europe."

À Kiev la semaine dernière, nous avons pris un engagement : œuvrer pour offrir à l’Ukraine le statut de candidat à l’adhésion à l’Union européenne. Nous y sommes. Ce soir nous ouvrons une nouvelle étape pour l’Ukraine, pour la Moldavie, pour l’Europe. C’est historique.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 23, 2022

Earlier on June 17, Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Brussels of "manipulating" Ukraine after the EU Commission recommended that Kiev be granted candidate status for joining the 27-nation bloc. 

"We see how for many years the Western community has been manipulating the idea of some kind of involvement of Ukraine in their integration structures," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. 

Ukraine, however, is getting "worse and worse," she added. 

Zakharova considered that Ukraine "is not getting a bright future, for some reason, despite the promises becoming more and more sweet and alluring."

It is worth noting that earlier in June, Bloomberg reported that Denmark and the Netherlands may oppose this step toward EU membership. According to reports, Danish officials are concerned about Ukraine's record on corruption and the rule of law.

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