In a historic visit to Kyiv on Thursday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and Romania declared their support for Ukraine’s European Union (EU) membership candidacy ahead of a special meeting of the European Council on June 23-24 that will determine its fate.
Upon his arrival in Kyiv with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister (PM) Mario Draghi after an overnight train journey, French President Emmanuel Macron said their visit represents “a message of European unity for the Ukrainian people, support now and in the future, because the weeks to come will be very difficult,” adding, “I would like to convey a message from all of us: Europe stands side by side with Ukraine until victory, and the face of this victory is a free, independent, peaceful Ukraine.”
❝Ukraine is part of the European family. Together with my German, Italian and Romanian partners, we are confirming for President Zelensky that we support granting Ukraine EU candidate country status immediately.❞ https://t.co/8ry6uPipUJ
— France Diplomacy🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo_EN) June 17, 2022
The three leaders were later joined by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who reaffirmed his support for Ukraine by saying, “It is our duty to act. It is our responsibility not to miss this opportunity to help our Ukrainian friends gain a new future.” This was the first time that the four leaders visited Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24.
The visit comes amid reports of major countries in the bloc being apprehensive about supporting Ukraine’s entry into the EU, as other countries like North Macedonia and Albania were farther along the path to achieving EU candidate status. To this end, Macron admitted in an interview, “Earlier, there were different positions in Europe, so I thought it was appropriate and useful to come now, to bring together the countries that support this message of unity in the EU.” This was welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who remarked, “I am confident that this visit of our friends to Kyiv will go down in the history of our country and Europe.”
🇪🇺🇺🇦 Ukraine deserves an individual and merit-based assessment when it comes to EU candidate status. Not only because we defend Europe’s future & freedom, but also because we’ve completed numerous reforms in previous years.#EmbraceUkraine #StrengthenTheUnion #UA_candidate_to_EU pic.twitter.com/284RLYODYs
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) June 17, 2022
Following a meeting with Zelensky, the four leaders announced in a joint press conference that “Ukraine belongs to the European family.” “We are at a turning point in our history. The Ukrainian people defend every day the values of democracy and freedom that underpin the European project, our project. We cannot wait. We cannot delay this process,” Draghi stressed.
Though Scholz was in favour of a “positive” decision with regards to Ukraine joining the EU, he pointed out that EU enlargement “is subject to clear criteria that must be met by all candidates, … especially democracy and the rule of law.” However, he also called for a need to modernise the EU structures and procedures. Zelensky, on his part, also underscored that Ukraine will complete all the procedures required to gain full membership of the EU. He recognised “the bravery of Ukrainian men and women” that helped Europe to create “this new history of freedom and finally remove the ‘gray’ zone between the EU and Russia in Eastern Europe. Ukraine has come closest to the European Union since independence.”
Scholz also extended his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by saying, “Russia is forcibly trying to move borders inside Europe, and this is unacceptable. That is why Germany, along with other countries of the world, has sided with Ukraine since day one.” This statement marked a change in his earlier position, wherein he had stated that he wouldn’t be visiting Kyiv for a “mere photo opportunity.”
We came to #Kyiv today with a clear message: #Ukraine belongs to the European family. Germany wants a positive decision in favor of Ukraine as a #EU candidate country.@ZelenskyyUa
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) June 16, 2022
In fact, Macron and Scholz have been at the forefront of resolving the Ukraine crisis through diplomacy with no success, calling for an immediate ceasefire and continuing negotiations to settle the crisis. They have been in constant touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout the war. Macron, in particular, has spoken with Putin at least 13 times; the pair also met in Moscow in early February as part of a French effort to prevent the invasion. He even offered to mediate a summit between United States (US) President Joe Biden and Putin to discuss Europe’s security and stability, and both leaders had agreed to meet “in principle.”
During Thursday’s meeting, Macron also noted that “the time to talk about peace and compromises has not arrived,” as Putin “is not yet ready to step back… and Ukraine is also not ready for concessions.” Moreover, he emphasised that only Ukraine will decide on what terms would end the war. Draghi also acknowledged this viewpoint by highlighting, “We want peace, we want other cities not to be damaged. But Ukraine must defend itself to achieve peace. Peace must meet Ukraine’s expectations. It must be lasting.”
As long as necessary, until peace returns to a free and independent Ukraine, we will remain committed. Humanitarian, economic and military support to enable Ukrainian soldiers to make a difference on the ground against the Russian army’s attacks. pic.twitter.com/XN9dq9sUum
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 16, 2022
In this regard, Zelensky expressed his gratitude, noting, “It was important for me to hear from the leaders another fundamental thing - they agree that the end of the war and peace for Ukraine must be exactly as Ukraine sees them. As our people see them.” Macron also agreed on France being a guarantor for Ukraine’s security once peace is negotiated.
Though no new announcements were made at the press conference, Macron agreed to pledge an additional six Ceasar self-propelled gun-howitzers, making it a total of 12. However, Macron divulged that no planes and tanks would be supplied, saying it is “an almost official position of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).”
The visit of 4 European leaders to Kyiv and about 50 participants of Rammstein 3 demonstrates strong international support for Ukraine. The future of Europe is being decided where Europeans defend their freedom. pic.twitter.com/JGNoF2qJXt
— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 16, 2022
Scholz noted that Germany will supply Ukraine with MLRSs (Multiple Launch Rocket Systems) along with the US and the United Kingdom (UK) and also provide the Ukrainian military training on how to use modern weapons, self-propelled howitzers, and anti-aircraft systems. “We have also promised to provide IRIS systems that will protect entire cities from air raids,” Scholz added.
This assurance of additional military support comes against the backdrop of severe criticism from Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar, who claimed earlier this week that Kyiv had received only about 10% of the weapons requested from the West. Zelensky blasted Germany for not delivering arms swiftly, despite promising to do so. Just two days before the visit, he told German media house ZDF: “Germany must reject a balancing act between Ukraine and Russia. We need Chancellor Scholz to give us the certainty that they will support Ukraine.”
In a similar vein, France and Italy were condemned for apparently being ready to compromise with Putin to end the war. In particular, Macron’s stance that Russia “must not be humiliated despite a historic mistake” was denounced not only by Ukraine but also by other EU members like Poland and Estonia.
No words to describe the unimaginable human tragedy and horrible destructions we saw today in Irpin. I strongly renew my appeal for all Russian perpetrators to be held responsible by the international criminal justice, which Romania fully supports. pic.twitter.com/ZEb8k2s6EC
— Klaus Iohannis (@KlausIohannis) June 16, 2022
Additionally, Macron, Iohannis, and Draghi underlined that all war crimes committed by Russian forces must be thoroughly investigated by the international court. Iohannis said that Russia is blackmailing the world by blocking the export of Ukrainian grain. However, he revealed that Ukraine, with Romania’s help, is using the Black Sea port of Constanța and the port of the Danube River to transport grain. He added that a new crossing point on the Ukraine-Romania border is also being considered. Zelensky also thanked Romania for providing humanitarian support to Ukrainian refugees.
Prior to meeting Zelensky, the four leaders also visited the ruined city of Irpin near Kyiv, where the Russian forces were thwarted before they could reach the Ukrainian capital. While Macron condemned the “barbaric” attacks and called Irpin “a heroic town,” Scholz remarked that Irpin is an example of “the brutality of the Russian war of aggression, which is simply out to destroy and conquer… without regard for human life.”