Ukraine is pushing for EU membership. But what are the real chances?
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a clear message for the European Union: Ukraine wants in.
"Do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you are indeed Europeans," the president, wearing military attire, told the European Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
The previous day, Zelenskyy had signed an official application asking for EU membership, a step that any European county is allowed to initiate on its own. Upping the ante, Zelenskyy requested a fast-tracked procedure to ensure his country joins the bloc as soon as feasibly possible.
The move from Kyiv follows comments made by Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, during an interview with Euronews, where she appeared to endorse Ukraine's bid.
"They belong to us. They are one of us and we want them in," von der Leyen.
An overwhelming majority of MEPs also backed the idea with a non-binding resolution, demanding Ukraine receive candidate status in line with the EU treaties and a "merit-based" approach.
"I think there are moments in time where you need have the courage to take great strides ahead, and if you look at previous enlargements it was always a political decision that had to do with security, with freedom," said Sophie in 't Veld, a Dutch MEP whose liberal party has proposed to welcome Zelenskyy's party.
But the path to join the bloc is everything but smooth.
In fact, the so-called accession process is a complex, arduous and expensive undertaking that drags out over several years, even decades, and requires an exceptional commitment from the candidate country, which is asked to implement a lengthy catalogue of reforms to comply with EU norms.
Most importantly, the whole process rests on the political will of the
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