As the round of discussions with Russia comes to an end, Ukraine’s president signs an application to join the EU

*Paromita Das

On Monday, an embattled Ukraine strengthened its ties with the West by signing an application to join the European Union, while the first round of Ukraine-Russia talks aimed at halting the bloodshed ended with no immediate breakthroughs.

On the fifth day of the battle, Russian and Ukrainian officials met in the shadow of Putin’s nuclear threats, and with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine encountering unexpectedly stiff resistance.

“Our goal is to be among all Europeans and, above all, to be equal. I am confident we deserve it,” he said.

Zelensky posted photographs of himself signing the EU application, a mostly symbolic action that might take years to implement, and is unlikely to delight Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long accused the West of wanting to pull Ukraine into its orbit.

A top adviser to Ukraine’s President announced early Monday night that the first round of negotiations with Russia had concluded and that both delegations had returned home for deliberations in their respective capitals.

Mykhailo Podolyak provided little information, other than to state that the negotiations, which took place near the Ukraine-Belarus border, were centered on a prospective cease-fire and that a second session could take place “in the near future.”

Overall, it appears that Ukraine’s deep-seated corruption will make it difficult for the country to gain EU recognition. Nonetheless, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told Euronews on Sunday, “We want them in the European Union.”

Several EU officials, however, retracted von der Leyen’s remarks, thereby dismissing Zelensky’s request.

According to EU foreign policy Chief Josep Borrell, any push for membership could take “several years.”, damping Ukraine’s hopes that joining the European club would help it better weather the Russian onslaught and accelerate military, financial, and political support.

Eric Mamer, Von der Leyen’s spokesman, pulled back her remarks, telling reporters that the EU head meant that Ukraine “is a European country and we want them in, meaning Europe in general.”

“She then stated that there is a procedure for entering the EU.” And I believe this is the most significant point,” he added.

In any event, the European Commission stated that it can only negotiate with prospective candidate countries with a mandate from the EU’s 27 member states, which it has not secured for Ukraine.

A commission spokesperson, Ana Pisonero, said, “At the end of the day,” “this is a debate at the highest political level, for the European Council,” where member states make choices.

Ukraine is still a long way from reaching the criteria for EU membership, and the EU’s 27-nation union is already overcrowded and unlikely to accept new members anytime soon.

Furthermore, any new member of the EU must be approved unanimously, and several member nations have extensive approval processes.

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, told a gathering of journalists that there have always been debates among EU members over expanding the bloc.

“There are diverse ideas and sensitivities about enlargement within the EU,” he told a gathering of journalists.

He stated that Kyiv would have to submit a formal request to join before member nations — which would have to unanimously approve membership — could take a position.

Overall, there is agreement that Ukraine’s deep-seated corruption will make gaining EU membership difficult.

Meanwhile, outgunned Ukrainian forces slowed Russia’s advance, and Western sanctions began to bite the Russian economy, but the Kremlin raised the danger of nuclear war once more, announcing that its land, air, and sea nuclear forces were on full alert in response to Putin’s weekend command.