European Leaders Visit President Zelensky, Ukraine Will Become A Member Of The EU?

JAKARTA - Having been criticized for being 'too cautious' about the Russian invasion, the leaders of Germany, France and Italy visited Kyiv, delivering a message of solidarity to President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday.

Air raid sirens blared in Kyiv as the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis began, with leaders on a tour of the nearby war-torn city of Irpin.

After holding talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders signaled Ukraine should be granted EU candidate status, a symbolic gesture that would draw Kyiv closer to the economic bloc.

Chancellor Scholz said Germany had taken in 800.000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict, and would continue to support Ukraine for as long as needed.

"Ukraine belongs to a European family," he said.

At the same time, President Macron said France would increase arms shipments to Kyiv, while a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels promised more arms for Ukraine while making plans to increase the eastern wing of the US-led military alliance.

"This will mean more combat formations being deployed to NATO's front. More air, sea, and cyber defense, as well as pre-deployed weapons and equipment and supplies," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian officials said their troops were still holding out against a massive Russian bombardment of the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, and described new advances in counter-offensives in the south.

But they say fighting on both main fronts hinges on receiving more aid from the West, especially artillery, to counter Russia's huge arms gain.

"We appreciate the support that has been given by partners, we look forward to new deliveries, especially heavy weapons, modern rocket artillery, anti-missile defense systems," President Zelensky said after talks with his European counterparts.

"There is a direct correlation: the stronger the weapons we get, the sooner we can liberate our people, our land," he said.