Ukrainian President Zelenskyy applies for EU membership 

Ukraine’s war-torn president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has signed an application to join the European Union, hours after requesting the European Union to allow Ukraine to join under a special procedure “immediately” as it defends itself against Russian forces. He was accompanied by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Chairman of Ukraine’s unicameral Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

The Ukrainian Parliament’s official account tweeted: “President @ZelenskyyUa has signed application for the membership of #Ukraine in the European Union. This is a historic moment!” The post was accompanied by a photo of the President signing the application.

President @ZelenskyyUa has signed application for the membership of #Ukraine in the European Union.

This is a historic moment! pic.twitter.com/rmzdgIwArc

President @ZelenskyyUa has signed application for the membership of #Ukraine in the European Union.

This is a historic moment! pic.twitter.com/rmzdgIwArc

— Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (@ua_parliament) February 28, 2022

“President @ZelenskyyUA signed #EU membership application for #Ukraine. This is the choice of Ukraine and Ukrainian people. We more than deserve it,” tweeted Prime Minister Shmyhal.

Zelenskyy’s plea follows words he made over the weekend, when he publicly called for Ukraine’s EU membership and met with European leaders to discuss the issue.

Although Ukraine has been a part of an association agreement with the EU (in which both parties agreed to align their economies in certain areas and increase political connections) since 2017, it is not currently recognised as an official candidate for EU membership.

On the Belarusian border, Russian and Ukrainian officials held ceasefire talks earlier today, as Russia’s diplomatic and economic isolation grew four days after its invasion of Ukraine.

Negotiators from the two warring sides have returned to Moscow and Kyiv for discussions ahead of the next round of talks.

Despite severe warnings from the West and threats of unprecedented sanctions, Ukraine has fought back courageously against Russia, which has attacked it from the north, south, and east.

Russia has been bombarding crucial defence and civil infrastructure in Ukraine, since Thursday, when it launched an all-out offensive at dawn. Ukraine claims that heavy fighting and airstrikes across the country have killed 32 people in the last five days.

Belgium, Finland, and Canada have joined other countries in banning Russian planes from their airspace in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. The West, led by the United States, has also imposed new economic penalties on Russia.