Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel pose for a picture during a European Union (EU) summit, as Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 3, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
KYIV鈥� The European Union offered strong support for Ukraine at a summit in Kyiv as air raid sirens wailed on Friday, but set 鈥渘o rigid time lines鈥� for its accession to the wealthy bloc.
President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped the EU would put Ukraine on a rapid road to membership. He used the summit to step up calls for allies to deliver long-range weapons to help repel Russian forces besieging the city of Bakhmut and occupying much of the eastern Donbas industrial region.
鈥淚f weapons (supplies) are quickened, specifically long-range weapons, we not only will not leave Bakhmut, but we will also begin to deoccupy Donbas,鈥� he told a joint news conference after the summit.
Ukrainian forces have held out for months in Bakhmut, where fighting is fierce, one of the main focal points of the war since Russia鈥檚 invasion of its neighbour almost a year ago.
鈥淣obody will give away Bakhmut. We will fight for as long as we can. We consider Bakhmut our fortress,鈥� Zelensky said.
Air raid sirens blared across Ukraine twice during the day as Zelenskiy hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, chairman of the 27 EU national leaders.
The EU-Ukraine summit was the first on Ukrainian soil since the Russian invasion. It focused on improving access for Ukrainian products to the EU market, helping Ukraine cover its energy needs after weeks of air strikes, new sanctions and prosecuting Russian leaders for the war.
Speaking in a video address after the summit, Zelensky said, 鈥渨e have an understanding that it will be possible for Ukraine to start EU accession negotiations this year鈥�.
But at the summit itself there was no promise of fast-track membership and the EU鈥檚 next package of sanctions on Russia, its 10th, is expected to fall short of Kyiv鈥檚 expectations.
Goals to reach
Kyiv applied to become an EU member shortly after the invasion began and wants to start formal accession talks as soon as possible.
鈥淭here are no rigid time lines, but there are goals that you have to reach,鈥� von der Leyen told the news conference.
She praised the Kyiv government鈥檚 changes for what she said was 鈥渢he precision, the quality and speed at which you deliver鈥�.
The EU has underlined the need for Ukraine to step up its fight against endemic corruption, reform the judiciary to free it from political meddling, and strengthen its economy.
Ukrainian authorities have in recent weeks sacked senior officials and opened investigations into suspected corruption as part of a crackdown on wrongdoing.
In his evening address, Zelensky promised more punitive measures, and thanked law enforcement agencies for moving against 鈥渢hose who didn鈥檛 understand that in public positions one should work only in the interests of the state鈥�.
Despite the air raid sirens, there were no reports of missile strikes after attacks on critical infrastructure in recent months that have caused widespread power outages.
Multiple political, economic and legal entry criteria mean the accession process takes years.
The EU鈥檚 eastward expansion also faces resistance from some EU states including France and is opposed by Moscow, which portrays the former Soviet republic鈥檚 accession to Western institutions as a threat to security. EU officials speak of 鈥渕anaging expectations鈥� on quick accession.