Air raid sirens sounded on Friday morning as the leaders of the European Union and Ukraine took part in a historic summit on Ukrainian soil.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel arrived in Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The EU will support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people against Russia’s ongoing war of aggression for as long as it takes,” the three leaders said in a joint statement, a draft of which was published by Reuters.
EU leaders. they are expected to promise additional economic, military and political assistance to Ukraine. The talks were expected to focus on improving access for Ukrainian goods to the European market, helping Ukraine meet its energy needs, new sanctions against Moscow, and prosecuting Russian leaders for the war.

However, another round of EU sanctions against Russia is not expected to meet the expectations of Ukraine and the EU. he is not expected to accelerate the entry of Kyiv into the European family during the war.
Kyiv has applied for EU membership. shortly after the Russian invasion and wants to start official accession negotiations as soon as possible.
Following separate talks on Thursday with Ursula von der Leyen and members of the European Commission, Zelenskiy said in a speech late in the evening that Ukraine needs unwavering support in the war.

“I believe that Ukraine deserves to start negotiations on EU membership this year,” the President of Ukraine said.
The EU, however, was not committed to a timeline, instead stressing the need for Ukraine to step up its fight against pervasive corruption, reform its judiciary to rid itself of political interference and strengthen its economy.
Numerous political, economic and legal entry criteria mean this process can take years. The EU’s eastward expansion is also facing resistance from some EU states, including France, and, of course, Moscow, which sees Ukraine’s integration into Western institutions as a threat to Russia’s security.
EU officials talk about “managing expectations” of accelerated membership as Moscow wages war on Ukraine.
However, Charles Michel, upon his arrival in Kyiv, said on Twitter that “we will not stop being decisive. We will also support the country at every stage of its path to the EU.”
EU aid According to EU officials, Ukraine has reached almost 50 billion euros since the start of the war.
The EU provides, among other things, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. He also plans to pass the tenth package of sanctions against Moscow in the coming weeks.
He also announced to the EU that he would step up military training in Ukraine, putting more emphasis on training tank crews that Western countries have provided to Ukraine.

Source: Reuters, Associated Press.