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Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the besieged city of Severodonetsk, a regional Ukrainian military leader has announced.
He said it made no sense to resist in the eastern city that has been under almost constant attack by Russian forces for several months.
The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to grant Ukraine candidate status for the European Union. This decision brings Kiev one step closer to its Western allies, who have supplied it with large quantities of weapons to help it face Russian aggression.
The vote in parliament ended with 529 votes in favor of Ukraine, 45 against and 14 abstentions. The European Parliament also approved the candidate status of the European Union of Georgia and Moldova.
In a Twitter post, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “a unique and historic moment in Ukraine-EU relations.” “Ukraine’s future is within the EU,” he wrote.
In another Instagram post, Mr. Zelenskyy wrote: “Once we have received the candidacy, this is our victory.”
The vote came after the United States announced it was sending another $ 450 million in military aid to Ukraine, including some additional medium-range missile systems, in addition to the $ 1 billion aid Washington announced a week ago.
In a Facebook post, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked European lawmakers for their support. “Ukraine is an EU country. “We are fighting for this right not only on the battlefield, but also in the legal sphere,” he wrote.
In order for the three countries to join the 27-member bloc, they are required to carry out a series of political and economic reforms.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine “has already met approximately 70% of EU rules, norms and standards”. But she added that much needs to be done on issues related to the rule of law, confronting the oligarchs, anti-corruption initiatives, and guaranteeing fundamental rights.
The European Council, which is made up of the heads of the 27 EU governments, has the final say on Ukraine’s membership. Voting must be unanimous. Diplomats say the process could take a decade to close.
“The Ukrainian people belong to the European family. Ukraine’s future is with the EU“, Said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. “Today marks the beginning of a long journey together”.
In Brussels, EU leaders also discussed the impact of the Ukraine war on global food security, as well as additional EU economic, military and humanitarian support for Kiev.
Mr Zelensky said Russia continued to carry out “massive airstrikes and artillery attacks” in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, adding that Moscow’s aim was “to gradually destroy the entire Donbas”. VOA
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