FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM
What happens if Ukraine joins the European Union?
UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an application for Ukraine to join the European Union after a round table discussion with Russia concluded.
A photo of Zelensky signing the document was posted to his Instagram account on Monday, February 28, 2022.
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Why does Ukraine want to join the EU?
One week after Russia invaded Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky applied to join the European Union.
He has long hoped the West would intervene and send aid in the form of military personnel to Ukraine.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin surrounded the country with troops in December 2021, the West and NATO responded not with military action, but with sanctions to freeze all monetary assets in Russia.
It is now Zelensky's hope that the EU will accept Ukraine's application, which is likely to anger Putin who has already threatened to use nuclear weapons if the West intervenes.
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Zelensky submitted the application after the first round of discussions with Russia concluded.
Vladimir Medinsky, a top aid to Putin and head of the Russian delegation told that a cease-fire may be possible and they will continue talking in the coming days.
He said the discussions lasted nearly five hours and they "found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen."
It generally takes years for a country's application to be considered and potentially approved to become part of the EU.
All 27 countries in the EU need to unanimously approve a country's application, but the president of the European Union Convention, Ursula von der Leyen, confirmed she wants Ukraine to become part of the EU.
von der Leyen told , "We have a process with Ukraine that is, for example, integrating the Ukrainian market into the single market.
"We have very close cooperation on the energy grid, for example.
"So many topics where we work very closely together and indeed over time, they belong to us.
"They are one of us and we want them in."
What will happen if Ukraine joins the EU?
Russia's attack on Ukraine has been at the forefront of western countries since the February 21 invasion, and several have already voiced their support of welcoming Ukraine into the EU.
The inclusion would provide a safety net for Ukraine, meaning they would have the support of the other 27 countries that are currently part of the EU.
According to , Zelensky appealed to the European Union, asking leaders to provide Ukraine with a fast-tracked approval of his application.
"We appeal to the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession under a new special procedure,” Zelensky said in a video broadcast from the capital, Kyiv.
“Our goal is to stand alongside all Europeans and, most importantly, to stand on their level.”
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The question remains if Putin will hold the West accountable for accepting Ukraine into the EU and will fulfill his threat to attack those countries that intervene.
In a televised speech on February 27, Putin declared, "Ukraine is an inalienable part of our own history, culture, and spiritual space. These are our comrades, those dearest to us – not only colleagues, friends, and people who once served together, but also relatives, people bound by blood, by family ties."
He made the declaration while also announcing that his nuclear weapons are on in "special combat readiness."
However, despite Putin's advances, the support for Ukraine continues to roll in. Upon Zelensky signing the application, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa tweeted, "You have our full support."
Likewise, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki made the request for the European Council to make "quick and courageous decisions" to accept Ukraine into the EU.
How long does the application process typically take?
The application process to enter the EU can take several years.
All 27 countries need to unanimously approve the acceptance of the country's request.
But given the circumstances and the ongoing Russian invasion, Zelensky pleaded with the European Union to expedite the application process.
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“I say it as frankly as it can be, the Ukrainian people deserve and have the right to get membership of the European Union. This will be the main evidence of support for our country," Zelensky said in a televised speech, according to .
He said Ukrainians will "stand firm" and continue to fight and push back Russia, but added, "Europeans are aware that our soldiers are fighting for our country and, consequently, for the whole of Europe.”
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