Ukraine President Zelenskyy Applies For EU Membership In Historically Defiant Moment

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed an official letter applying for European Union membership.

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion, which first began when President Vladimir Putin sent troops across the border on Thursday, February 24, Zelenskyy has accused the EU of having an 'insufficient reaction'.

He previously called for Ukraine to become a member of the EU, and has since signed a letter requesting that the move be made 'under quick procedure'.

The Parliament of Ukraine took to Twitter to share a photograph of the Ukrainian President signing the application, and called the signing a 'historic moment'.

Kira Rudik, a Ukrainian MP, also took to the platform today, February 28, to share an image of a gathering of the 'leaders of the factions to vote for the important matters'.

According to Rudik, the matters included, '[An] appeal to #EU for Ukraine to join EU on a simplified procedure. [An] appeal to remove #Russia from UN Security Counsel [and] prepping legislation to freeze Russian assets inside Ukraine [sic].'

An image of the letter featuring Zelenskyy's signature was shared by Illia Ponomarenko, defence reporter for The Kyiv Independent.

In an earlier video speech, the Ukrainian President stated, 'We ask the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession under a new special procedure.

'Our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. I’m sure that’s fair. I am sure we deserve it.'

While the European Commission has stated on Twitter that the 'EU understands how hard the situation is' for Ukraine and that it is 'at [the country's] side,' it remains unclear as to just how quickly Zelenskyy's request could be granted.

However, President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen has noted that Ukraine is 'one of us and we want them in the European Union', according to Euro News.

'We have a process with Ukraine that is, for example, integrating the Ukrainian market into the single market. We have very close cooperation on the energy grid, for example. So many topics where we work very closely together and indeed over time, they belong to us. They are one of us and we want them in,' she explained.

Reflecting on the negotiation talks that are reported as having possibly taken place today, von der Leyen concluded, 'Of course, it is important that the Ukrainian side agrees to the peace talks and that conditions are fine for the Ukrainian side. In general, it is always better to have peace talks than to have a fight. But the trust in President Putin is completely broken and eroded.'

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information 

Topics: Ukraine, Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.