International

Ursula von der Leyen after visit to Kiev: There were detailed discussions on Ukraine's accession to the EU

European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen, on her way back to Brussels on Tuesday evening from Kiev, gave a positive assessment of her visit, saying that there had been detailed discussions on Ukraine's EU membership but that more work was needed, dpa and Agerpres report.

TV8
Sursa: TV8

Von der Leyen also said she was impressed by the Ukrainians' determination.

"I come away from this visit more impressed than ever by the determination of the Ukrainians, despite the huge challenges they face. We must continue to support them," she said.

During her visit to Kiev, von der Leyen met President Volodimir Zelenski and Prime Minister Denis Shmihal.

According to her, the EC will present a first oral assessment of Ukraine's current reform efforts to the Council of Member States in June, followed by a written report in October, on the basis of which a decision on the start of accession negotiations will be taken.

Ukraine was designated last year as a candidate country for EU membership, dpa recalls.

The EC president also put forward proposals for a restriction on products traded with Russia that circumvent EU sanctions. Von der Leyen said the EC wants to halt trade in goods between the EU and Russia arriving via non-EU countries, after it noted an increase in "highly unusual trade flows". Sanctions are being considered for goods identified as arriving in Russia in this way, von der Leyen said, stressing that they would be used as a last resort.

At the same time, the EU plans to further restrict its exports by including more technology products and aircraft parts, von der Leyen said.

According to EU sources, Kazakhstan, Armenia and the United Arab Emirates have been designated as countries through which Russia's sanctions are being circumvented.

As a deterrent, the EU could first create the legal possibility to restrict exports to countries suspected of circumventing sanctions. If this proves insufficient, certain exports could be banned as a second step.

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