The European Commission backs Ukraine's candidate status, but says the country must make changes.
and backed Ukraine's bid to join the EU - a big vote of confidence for Ukraine that today's decision was inevitable.The development "requires our heightened attention, because we are all aware of the intensification of discussions in Europe on the subject of strengthening the defence component of the EU", Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters at his regular news briefing.
"We have never been against it. We have always been against military utilisation of Ukraine territory. As regards economic integration, that is their choice," he told the St Petersburg economic forum. Ms von der Leyen announced support for Moldova - one of Europe's poorest countries - to move to candidacy status, but not Georgia.
There are five nations that currently have EU candidacy status - Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey.Wearing Ukraine's colours, Ursula Von der Leyen's message wasn't subtle - the EU wants to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.The recommendation has to be signed off by member states, although after heavyweights France, Germany and Italy threw themselves behind the plans yesterday, that seems likely to happen.
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