Scholz, Macron and Draghi vow support for Ukraine’s EU bid

European leaders expressed their support for Ukraine while meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. The visiting leaders vowed to back Kyiv’s candidacy to eventually join the European Union. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz  and Italian Premier Mario Draghi addressed a news conference jointly with Zelenskyy.“Ukraine belongs to the European family,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in the first visit by Europe's most prominent leaders to the Ukrainian capital since Russia unleashed its invasion. Kyiv hopes the high-profile message of support will lead to more weapons supplies and tougher sanctions on Russia.

Macron said all four leaders supported the idea of granting “immediate” EU candidate status to Ukraine, adding that France would step up arms deliveries to Kyiv. Macron said it was time for Europe to reassure Ukraine over its EU ambitions. “We are at a point when we need to send clear political signals, us Europeans, towards Ukraine and its people when it is resisting heroically,” he said.
Amid Ukrainian fears that Western resolve could wane, the visit carried heavy symbolism. France, Germany and Italy have all faced criticism for continuing to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  They also expressed concern about millions of tons of grain backed up in Black Sea ports by the conflict saying it could bring worldwide catastrophe. Speaking at a joint news conference in the Ukrainian capital, Draghi said he fully supported investigations into alleged war crimes in Ukraine. And it wants Ukraine to have candidate status and will support this position at the next European Council, he said.