Germany's FM Rules out Ukraine's Accession to EU at Present Time

Germany's Foreign Minister (FM) Annalina Bierbock has ruled out that Ukraine will soon join the European Union  (EU).

"We do not know when the step of Ukraine's accession to the European Union can be taken and how it can be done," the German minister said - in statements carried by German television.

Bierbock added that  Ukraine belongs to the home of Europe, and it is going through a terrible war now."

She noted Ukraine's request for rapid accession to the European Union after the Russian military operation on February 24, and that Kyiv had already submitted documents that could form the basis for accession talks.

Bierbock had already expressed her reservations about the membership application at the end of February, noting that such a procedure usually takes years.