The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is in Kyiv to discuss Ukraine’s future EU membership. In addition to accession, she also wants to speak to President Volodymyr Zelensky about financing “the reconstruction that should turn Ukraine into a modern and prosperous democracy.”
Von der Leyen’s visit comes ahead of the publication of a European Commission report on November 8. The Commission will evaluate how far Ukraine has already progressed and answer the question of whether official accession talks with Ukraine can begin.
According to President Zelensky, Ukraine has now honored all previous recommendations of the committee. On Friday he announced that he had signed a final amendment to the law that should bring Ukrainian legislation into line with that of Europe.
This concerns an amendment to the law on national minorities. This now allows minorities to use their own language, in accordance with EU guidelines. The change in law applies to the Hungarian and Romanian minorities in the west of the country. The Ukrainian parliament had already approved the change in the law on September 21.
Von der Leyen’s visit to Kyiv is her sixth since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In addition to accession, she will also discuss continued European military support, and the twelfth package of European sanctions against Russia.
“The most important message we are delivering is that we confirm that we will stand by Ukraine’s side for as long as necessary,” Von der Leyen told the press in Kyiv.
Michel Maas
