{"id":1521636,"date":"2022-06-18T07:20:25","date_gmt":"2022-06-18T11:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1521636"},"modified":"2022-06-18T07:20:28","modified_gmt":"2022-06-18T11:20:28","slug":"eu-supports-ukraines-bid-for-membership-to-live-the-european-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/eu-supports-ukraines-bid-for-membership-to-live-the-european-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Supports Ukraine\u2019s Bid for Membership to \u201cLive the European Dream\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Feu-supports-ukraines-bid-for-membership-to-live-the-european-dream%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1521636&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> <a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/financialpost.com\/category\/pmn\/business-pmn\/\">PMN Business<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"wire-published-by\">\n<p class=\"visually-hidden\">Author of the article:<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reuters\" aria-labelledby=\"wire-company-name\" class=\"wire-published-by__logo\" height=\"70\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&#038;d=mp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&#038;d=mp, https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=140&#038;d=mp 2x\" width=\"70\" \/> <\/p>\n<div class=\"wire-published-by__author-container\">\n<p> Reuters <\/p>\n<p> Robin Emmott and Max Hunder <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>BRUSSELS\/KYIV \u2014 The European Union gave its blessing on Friday for Ukraine and its neighbor Moldova to become candidates to join the bloc, reaching out deep into the former Soviet Union for what would be a major geopolitical shift resulting from Russia\u2019s invasion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUkrainians are ready to die for the European perspective,\u201d European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference, wearing Ukrainian colors: a yellow blazer over a blue blouse. \u201cWe want them to live with us the European dream.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment5658278714955493430350026137244125\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment5658278714955493430350026137244125\">Advertisement 2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" id=\"ad-2\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Though only the start of a process that may take many years, it puts Kyiv on course to realize an aspiration that would have been beyond its reach just months ago.<\/p>\n<p>Ukraine applied to join the EU four days after Russian troops poured across its border in February. Another four days later, so did Moldova and Georgia \u2013 smaller ex-Soviet states also contending with separatist regions occupied by Russia.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the first step on the EU membership path that\u2019ll certainly bring our victory closer,\u201d tweeted President Voldymyr Zelenskiy. \u201cPrecisely because of the bravery of the Ukrainians, Europe can create a new history of freedom, and finally remove the grey zone in Eastern Europe between the EU and Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of President Vladimir Putin\u2019s main objectives in launching an invasion that has killed thousands of people, destroyed cities and driven millions to flight was to halt the West\u2019s eastward expansion via the NATO military alliance.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment3906418939368142647550735295455856\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment3906418939368142647550735295455856\">Advertisement 3<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" id=\"ad-3\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Friday\u2019s announcement underlined how the war has had the opposite effect: convincing Finland and Sweden to join NATO, and now the EU to embark on potentially its most ambitious expansion since welcoming Eastern European states after the Cold War. Putin played down the EU issue, saying on Friday: \u201cWe have nothing against it. It is not a military bloc. It\u2019s the right of any country to join economic union.\u201d Leaders of EU countries are expected to endorse the membership candidacy decision at a summit next week. The leaders of the three biggest \u2013 Germany, France and Italy \u2013 conveyed their solidarity on Thursday by visiting Kyiv, along with the president of Romania.<\/p>\n<p>PUTIN BLASTS U.S.<\/p>\n<p>Moldovan President Maia Sandu hailed a \u201cstrong signal of support for Moldova and our citizens\u201d and said her government was committed to working hard on the process.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment7052730505917422404254209314816731\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment7052730505917422404254209314816731\">Advertisement 4<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-4\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>In St Petersburg, Putin railed at the West in a grievance-filled speech to an annual economic conference once billed as the \u201cRussian Davos\u201d but now largely boycotted by Western dignitaries and corporate CEOs.<\/p>\n<p>He denounced the United States for considering itself \u201cGod\u2019s emissary on Earth,\u201d said Western intransigence had given Russia no choice but to launch its \u201cspecial military operation\u201d in Ukraine, and vowed to overcome Western sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are strong people and can cope with any challenge. Like our ancestors, we will solve any problem, the entire thousand-year history of our country speaks of this,\u201d Putin said.<\/p>\n<p>While recommending candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova, the Commission held off for more volatile Georgia, which it said must first meet more conditions.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment4315909285245763223263310746662209\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment4315909285245763223263310746662209\">Advertisement 5<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-5\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Joining the EU requires years of administrative reform \u2013 there are 35 \u201cchapters of the acquis\u201d setting out standards to meet in areas from judicial policy and financial services to food safety. Nor is membership guaranteed \u2013 talks have been stalled for years with Turkey, a candidate since 1999.<\/p>\n<p>If admitted, Ukraine would be the EU\u2019s largest country by area and its fifth most populous. All three ex-Soviet hopefuls are far poorer than any existing EU members, with per capita output around half that of the current poorest, Bulgaria.<\/p>\n<p>All three have recent histories of volatile politics, domestic unrest, entrenched organized crime and unresolved conflicts with Russian-backed separatists proclaiming sovereignty over territory protected by Moscow\u2019s troops.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment2958155679571515321860175347260441\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment2958155679571515321860175347260441\">Advertisement 6<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-6\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"6\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-6\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>POST-SOVIET GENERATION<\/p>\n<p>But in Zelenskiy, 44, and Sandu, 50, Ukraine and Moldova both now have pro-Western leaders with strong electoral mandates, representing a generation that came of age outside the Soviet Union.<\/p>\n<p>The latest foreign dignitary to visit Kyiv was Britain\u2019s Boris Johnson, who arrived on Friday for his second trip since the war began, offering training for Ukrainian troops.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy visit today, in the depths of this war, is to send a clear and simple message to the Ukrainian people: the UK is with you, and we will be with you until you ultimately prevail,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n<p>Within Ukraine, Russian forces were defeated in an attempt to storm the capital in March but have since refocused on the east, using their artillery firepower advantage to blast their way into cities in a punishing attritional phase of the war.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment4146129512365979641952977595582595\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment4146129512365979641952977595582595\">Advertisement 7<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-7\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"7\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-7\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Ukrainian officials said their troops were still holding out in Sievierodonetsk, site of the worst recent fighting, on the east bank of the Siverskyi Donets river. It was impossible to evacuate more than 500 civilians trapped inside a chemical plant, the regional governor said.<\/p>\n<p>In the surrounding Donbas region, which Moscow claims on behalf of its separatist proxies, Ukrainian forces are mainly defending the river\u2019s opposite bank.<\/p>\n<p>Near the frontline in the ruins of the small city of Marinka, Ukrainian police made their way into a cellar searching for anyone who would accept help to leave. A group of mainly elderly residents huddled on mattresses in candlelight.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s space down here, you could join us,\u201d joked one man as the officers came in. A woman named Nina sighed in the darkness: \u201cThere is nowhere. Nowhere. Nowhere to go. All the houses have been burnt out. Where can we go?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the south, Ukraine has mounted a counter-offensive, claiming to have made inroads into the biggest swathe still held by Russia of the territory it seized in the invasion.<\/p>\n<p>Ukraine claimed its forces had struck a Russian vessel bringing soldiers, weapons and ammunition to Russian-occupied Snake Island, a strategic Black Sea outpost, its first successful strike with a Western-supplied anti-ship missile.<\/p>\n<p>(Additional reporting by Abdelaziz Boumzar in Marinka and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff and Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Alex Richardson)<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt=\"beforeunload\" data-evt-typ=\"page_scroll\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields>\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Share this article in your social network<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"article-content__ad-group\">\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--category visually-hidden\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment3786693804349507096049793237751925\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment3786693804349507096049793237751925\">Advertisement <\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-acceptable\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-acceptable=\"\" data-ad-loc=\"1\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-acceptable\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"widget article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--slot1 article-content__widget-group--no-featured-media\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"FinancialPostTopStories8334748630212543775670410510069271\" class=\"newsletter-widget fp-headlinenews\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component=\"\" data-target-list=\"FP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Top Stories Newsletter logo\" class=\"newsletter-widget__logo newsletter-widget__logo--FP_HeadlineNews\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gstage.postmedia.digital\/10.7.1\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg\" width=\"97\" \/> <\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__body\">\n<h2 class=\"newsletter-widget__title\" id=\"FinancialPostTopStories8334748630212543775670410510069271\">Financial Post Top Stories<\/h2>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text\">Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<div class=\"js-replace-main\">  <small class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer text-size--micro\"> By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. 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