Ukraine will be the sole focus of upcoming European Council meeting – Michel

It is fundamentally important for the European Union to remain firm in support of Ukraine's resistance to Russian aggression, says President of the European Council Charles Michel.

He added that Ukraine would be the only item on the agenda of the next European Council, Rubryka reports.

During the press conference following the results of the virtual EU summit, which was dedicated to the situation in the Middle East, Michel noted that the European Union should continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and neighboring countries that accept refugees, but at the same time remain resolute and continue to support Ukraine.

"It is our duty and responsibility to remain resolute and continue to support Ukraine as long as it takes. We will remain mobilized in this sense. Ukraine will be the only item on the agenda of the next European Council," said Michel.

He added that the Russian Federation was undoubtedly one of the countries benefiting from the serious escalation of violence in the Middle East and had already begun to use the situation to fuel narratives against the European Union and its partners.

Background

Ukraine received the candidate status for joining the European Union last year. Now, the state must fulfill several conditions to become a full member of the bloc.

As of late June, Ukraine fulfilled two of the seven conditions necessary to start negotiations, and in late September, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that the state was completing all recommendations of the European Commission at the governmental level.

The Ukrainian government was counting on a positive report from the European Commission and a recommendation to start accession negotiations as early as 2023. President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated that his country can start negotiations on joining the EU already this year.