Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Mar 11: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausda on Friday said that the leaders of the European Union have agreed to allow Ukraine to join the bloc.
The news comes more than ten days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an application for his country’s war-torn country to join the European Union.
“After five hours of heated discussions EU leaders said yes to Ukrainian eurointegration. The process started. Now it is up to us and Ukrainians to accomplish it fast. Heroic Ukrainian nation deserves to know that they are welcome in EU,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausda tweeted.
A historic night at Versailles. After five hours of heated discussions EU leaders said yes to Ukrainian eurointegration. The process started. Now it is up to us and Ukrainians to accomplish it fast. Heroic Ukrainian nation deserves to know that they are welcome in EU.
— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) March 11, 2022
However, according to Reuters, the European Union turned down Kyiv’s request for expedited membership and disagreed on the scope of sanctions against Moscow.
Reuters quoted Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic who said, “Nobody entered the European Union overnight.” This came after the talks among the 27 national leaders ended on Friday morning.
“Ukraine belongs to the European family,” said Council President Charles Michel on the other hand, expressing sorrow and emotional support for the war-torn country.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an application in February seeking EU membership for Ukraine under a special procedure “immediately” while the country fights itself against Russian soldiers.
The European Council has responded by stating that it will have to “seriously consider Ukraine’s proposal for EU membership.” A decision on Ukraine’s membership will “had to be done with a clear head,” according to Council President Charles Michel.
