Ukraine official makes plea for EU candidate status

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, told EU lawmakers that failing to give Ukraine a sign of an open door would be a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “he can be totally going forward without any punishment." European heads of state and government are expected to consider Ukraine's bid for EU candidate status at the end of June. Roberta Mestola, the president of the EU legislature, said lawmakers will continue supporting Ukraine's effort to obtain candidate status. The French government has made clear it thinks it’s unrealistic to expect Ukraine to join the EU any time soon, saying the process would take many years, “in fact probably several decades.” The Ukrainian bid has received warm support in Eastern European countries, but EU officials have stressed the process could take years, Speaking in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin backed Ukraine’s application and said he hoped EU leaders would “send the people of Ukraine a clear and positive message.” Martin is among the EU leaders meeting at an June 23-24 summit.