European Leaders Approve Ukraine as Candidate to Join EU
2022-06-24
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1European leaders have approved Ukraine as a candidate to join the European Union (EU).
2Ukraine's application to become part of the EU was accepted during a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels Thursday.
3The approval is a first step in considering Ukraine's full membership into the EU.
4The whole process is expected to take years.
5The EU's decision "is a signal to Moscow that Ukraine, and also other countries from the former Soviet Union, cannot belong to the Russian spheres of influence," Ukraine's ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, told Reuters.
6Friday marks four months since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops across the border into Ukraine.
7Russia has called the war a "special military operation."
8Putin said the conflict was partly an answer to Western encroachment into what Russia considers its sphere of influence.
9Russia has long opposed closer links between Ukraine and Western groupings like the EU and the NATO military alliance.
10The West sees the war in Ukraine as an unjustified act of aggression by Russia.
11The conflict has killed thousands, displaced millions and destroyed cities.
12It has also affected world exports of goods such as food and energy.
13Charles Michel is the European Council President.
14He called the approval of Ukraine's application "a decisive moment for the European Union."
15Members of the European Parliament gave their approval to Ukraine's application hours before the EU meeting in Brussels.
16Legislators voted to pass a resolution that calls on EU heads of state and government to "move without delay" and "live up to their historical responsibility."
17The EU's 27 nations have been united in backing Ukraine's resistance to Russia's invasion.
18They have approved a number of economic sanctions against Moscow.
19But EU leaders were at first split on how quickly the group should move to accept Ukraine as a member.
20The nations with the biggest concerns were the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark.
21But Ukraine's application got a boost last week by the European Commission, which expressed its support after receiving answers from Ukraine from a series of questions sent in April and May.
22Ukraine recently received additional support after the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania visited the country and promised to back its candidacy.
23Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with 11 EU leaders on Wednesday, after holding calls with nine others the day before.
24He said the meeting in Brussels represents a "historic session of the European Council."
25I'm Bryan Lynn.
1European leaders have approved Ukraine as a candidate to join the European Union (EU). 2Ukraine's application to become part of the EU was accepted during a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels Thursday. 3The approval is a first step in considering Ukraine's full membership into the EU. The whole process is expected to take years. 4The EU's decision "is a signal to Moscow that Ukraine, and also other countries from the former Soviet Union, cannot belong to the Russian spheres of influence," Ukraine's ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, told Reuters. 5Friday marks four months since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops across the border into Ukraine. Russia has called the war a "special military operation." Putin said the conflict was partly an answer to Western encroachment into what Russia considers its sphere of influence. 6Russia has long opposed closer links between Ukraine and Western groupings like the EU and the NATO military alliance. 7The West sees the war in Ukraine as an unjustified act of aggression by Russia. The conflict has killed thousands, displaced millions and destroyed cities. It has also affected world exports of goods such as food and energy. 8Charles Michel is the European Council President. He called the approval of Ukraine's application "a decisive moment for the European Union." 9Members of the European Parliament gave their approval to Ukraine's application hours before the EU meeting in Brussels. Legislators voted to pass a resolution that calls on EU heads of state and government to "move without delay" and "live up to their historical responsibility." 10The EU's 27 nations have been united in backing Ukraine's resistance to Russia's invasion. They have approved a number of economic sanctions against Moscow. 11But EU leaders were at first split on how quickly the group should move to accept Ukraine as a member. The nations with the biggest concerns were the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. 12But Ukraine's application got a boost last week by the European Commission, which expressed its support after receiving answers from Ukraine from a series of questions sent in April and May. 13Ukraine recently received additional support after the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania visited the country and promised to back its candidacy. 14Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with 11 EU leaders on Wednesday, after holding calls with nine others the day before. He said the meeting in Brussels represents a "historic session of the European Council." 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 17We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 18____________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20application - n. a formal and usually written request for something 21sphere - n. a subject or area of knowledge, work, etc. 22encroach - v. gradually take away someone's rights, power, etc. or get control of something, often without being noticed 23decisive - adj. strongly affecting how a situation will progress or end 24sanction - n. an action taken to force a country to obey international laws by limiting trade or aid to the country 25boost - n. something that makes you feel more confident or happy or that helps something increase of improve