Ukraine May Get EU Candidate Status 'within Weeks'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his hope that his country will obtain "in the coming weeks" the status of a candidate country to join the European Union (EU),  thanking Brussels for the speed of the procedure.

During a meeting in Kyiv, Zelensky handed the EU ambassador to Ukraine, Matti Masikas, two huge files containing Ukraine's application to join the European Union.

Zelensky added that obtaining candidate country status "usually takes years", but Brussels "really gave us an opportunity to start this procedure in a few weeks or months.

The Ukrainian leader added that his people are really convinced that this procedure will start in the coming weeks, affirming that this would be an "important signal" of friendship between Kyiv and Brussels as the Ukrainians  are confident that they will be supported in this work."