EU backs Ukraine's 'European dream' as Russia cuts gas supplies

EU backs Ukraine's 'European dream' as Russia cuts gas supplies

Fierce fighting has continued in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine as Brussels considers Kyiv's membership bid
Fierce fighting has continued in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine as Brussels considers Kyiv's membership bid. Photo: ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see YEN.com.gh News on your News Feed!

Europe sent a powerful symbol of solidarity with Ukraine on Friday, when Brussels backed Kyiv's bid for EU candidate status, even as Russia shelled frontline Ukrainian cities and cut back gas supplies to the West.

With the European Commission's backing, Ukraine could now be added to the list of countries vying for EU membership as early as next week, when member state leaders meet at their Brussels summit.

All 27 EU leaders will have to agree to the candidacy, but the heads of the European Union's biggest members -- France, Germany and Italy -- already gave their full-throated support to the idea on Thursday, on a trip to a war-torn suburb of Kyiv.

Then on Friday, the European Commission gave the executive's formal backing to the bid, and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen made her position clear by donning a striking jacket in Ukraine's national colours.

Read also

UK clears Assange extradition to US

"We all know that Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective. We want them to live with us for the European dream," she said.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately welcomed the decision as a "first step on the EU membership path that'll certainly bring our victory closer".

PAY ATTENTION: Enjoy reading our stories? Join YEN.com.gh's Telegram channel for more!

He thanked von der Leyen for the commission's "historic decision" and said he expected that EU leaders would give Ukraine a "positive result" at the June 23 to 24 summit.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wore Ukrainian national colours to announce that the EU executive backs Kyiv's bid for candidate status
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wore Ukrainian national colours to announce that the EU executive backs Kyiv's bid for candidate status. Photo: Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP
Source: AFP

Once Ukraine joins the EU candidates' list -- alongside several countries in the western Balkans -- it could still take years to meet all the formal membership requirements, even if Kyiv prevails in the war.

"Yes, Ukraine should be welcomed as a candidate country -- this is based on the understanding that good work has been done but important work also remains to be done," von der Leyen said.

Read also

China launches third aircraft carrier in major military milestone

And in the meantime, the fighting continues, with Russian forces bombarding Ukrainian pockets of resistance in frontline Severodonetsk, including civilians holed up in a chemical plant in the eastern Ukrainian city.

And Moscow turned up the pressure on the Western allies, sharply reducing flows of natural gas in its pipelines to Western Europe, driving up energy prices.

'Die for the dream'

France's network provider said it had not received any Russian gas by pipeline from Germany since June 15, and Italy's Eni said it expected Russian firm Gazprom to cut its supplies by half on Friday.

Several European countries, including Italy and Germany, are highly reliant upon Russian gas for their energy needs and, as the West sides with Ukraine, Moscow is cutting supplies.

The day before the EU Commission's announcement the French, German, Italian and Romanian leaders had travelled to Kyiv to send a powerful symbol of support to Ukraine
The day before the EU Commission's announcement the French, German, Italian and Romanian leaders had travelled to Kyiv to send a powerful symbol of support to Ukraine. Photo: Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP
Source: AFP

Berlin and Rome have rejected Russia's argument that technical issues have caused the drop in supplies, arguing that state-owned Gazprom's move is political.

But western Europe is sweltering in a heatwave and energy prices are already soaring, adding to runaway inflation and industrial action in several economies.

Read also

Covid in Hong Kong shows 'signs of rebound', city leader says

The situation is, of course, more stark in Ukraine itself, where Russian troops have occupied a swathe of the south and east of the country during the 113-day war, including much of the Donbas region.

"The humanitarian situation across Ukraine -- particularly in the eastern Donbas -- is extremely alarming and continues to deteriorate rapidly," the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, said.

The statement said the situation is "particularly worrying in and around Severodonetsk" -- where bloody battles have raged for weeks.

'God's will'

Severodonetsk is in the Lugansk region, where governor Sergiy Gaiday called for a ceasefire, stating hundreds of civilians were trapped in the besieged Azot chemical plant in the city.

"It is now impossible and physically dangerous to get out of the plant due to constant shelling and fighting. There are 568 people in the shelter, including 38 children," he said.

Gaiday said earlier this week that around 10,000 civilians remained in the city, which is controlled mostly by Russian forces.

Read also

Final campaign push ahead of poll test for France's Macron

Russian invasion of Ukraine
Map of Ukraine showing position of military forces in Ukraine as of June 17, 0700 GMT. Photo: Simon MALFATTO / AFP
Source: AFP

In the frontline Donbas village of Adamivka near the city of Sloviansk, a community of Orthodox nuns have seen a rocket hole blasted into the wall of their well-tended garden.

Under near-constant bombardment by Russian forces, Sister Anastasi and a group of other black-clad nuns and pilgrims live day-to-day, praying for deliverance.

"We are all alive, yes. No one has left. This is our home," she said quietly, her face framed by a black veil, as shells crashed in the distance.

"We trust in God's will, in God's help, in the help of all the saints and the Holy Virgin. This is our home, we have nowhere else to go."

At least two people were killed and 20 injured in a Russian strike on a residential area in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, the local governor said.

PAY ATTENTION: check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Online view pixel