EU PLEDGES SUPPORT AHEAD OF KYIV SUMMIT

The EU on Friday pledged to support Ukraine “every step of the way” in its quest for bloc membership as top officials gathered in Kyiv for a highly symbolic summit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is hosting the meeting, is pressing the bloc for speedy membership as it battles to defeat a nearly year-long Russian invasion.
The EU granted candidate status to Ukraine last June, but the path to full membership is likely to be fraught and could take years.
EU chief Charles Michel announced his arrival in the Ukrainian capital as air raid sirens sounded, vowing that there will be “no let up in our resolve.”
“We will also support you every step of the way on your journey to the EU,” Mr. Michel tweeted.

New sanctions

The bloc’s chief Ursula von der Leyen and the EU’s most senior diplomat, Josep Borrell, are also in Kyiv for the summit.
Von der Leyen welcomed steps taken by Ukraine for membership and said the EU was looking to finalise new sanctions against Russia by February 24, the first anniversary of the invasion.
An EU ban on Russian oil products is set to come into effect on Sunday alongside a G7 price cap.

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB

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