The Ukrainian leadership reacted euphorically to the granting of EU candidate status. The Kremlin has its own expectations of Ukraine and Moldova joining the EU.
After receiving EU candidate status, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of a turning point for his country.
“Ukraine is not a bridge, not a cushion between the West and Russia, not a buffer between Europe and Asia, not a sphere of influence, not a gray zone, not a transit country,” said the 44-year-old head of state in a video address published on Friday. Ukraine is a “future equal partner for at least 27 EU countries.” Ukraine is no longer a “third country” but will become a member of the European Union.
In the same video, Parliament leader Ruslan Stefanchuk said that this decision would change history. The 46-year-old said: “We cannot change the geography. Russia will continue to be our neighbor.” But in this case history conquered geography.
Prime Minister: “Access to financial aid programs of the EU”
Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal then emphasized the new prospects for Ukraine through its status as a candidate for accession: Kyiv now has “access to new financial aid programs from the EU”. The 46-year-old raised hopes for new investments and jobs. “From now on, our state will not only take over the European experience, but will also be able to influence the industrial policy of the European Union,” he underlined. The integration process of Ukraine is irreversible.
In an extraordinary decision on Thursday, the summit of EU heads of state and government granted the Eastern European country, which has been fending off Russian attacks for four months, the status of an EU accession candidate.
Kremlin: EU accession must not be at the expense of Russia
The Kremlin makes a condition for a possible EU accession of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova that their relations with Russia do not deteriorate any further. The granting of candidate status to the two ex-Soviet republics is initially an “internal European matter,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Interfax news agency. “For us it is very important that these processes do not cause us or the relations with the countries mentioned any more problems.”
In addition, it must be ensured that relations between Russia and the European Union do not deteriorate further as Ukraine and Moldova approach the EU, said Peskov. “They’re pretty spoiled as it is.”
The Kremlin spokesman also criticized the Moldovan leadership in this context: they were trying to justify candidate status by taking measures against Russia. “It seems to you that the more anti-Russian they are, the more the Europeans should like them,” said Peskov.
After the Russian attack on Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova officially declared itself neutral and has so far not participated in Western sanctions against Russia, on whose gas supplies the republic is still heavily dependent.
At the same time, fears are growing in Chisinau that Moscow troops will attack their own country, citing the alleged oppression of the Russian-speaking population. In Moldova, there is a conflict region in Transnistria, where a pro-Russian separatist regime has de facto ruled since the 1990s.
Source: Stern
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