Zelensky, European leaders discuss Ukraine’s EU integration

Kiev:  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania in Kiev to discuss his country’s prospects to join the European Union and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the presidential press service reported.
At the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Zelensky briefed the European leaders about the situation on the frontline and the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces in the conflict with Russia, Xinhua news agency reported.
Ukraine expects fresh supplies of heavy weapons, modern jet artillery and missile defense systems from its partners, Zelensky said.
He also assured the European leaders that Ukraine stands ready to carry out the necessary work to gain full membership in the EU.
For his part, Macron said that Ukraine is part of the European family, and the leaders of the four countries support granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership.
Meanwhile, Scholz said that the candidate status is an important milestone in Ukraine’s European path, while noting that the country needs to meet certain criteria to join the 27-member bloc.