ukraine's application to join the
european union looks likely to take a
step forward later senior eu officials
will give their recommendation on
whether to grant the country what's
known as candidate status but it's a
long and complicated process to actually
become a member speaking after a visit
by the french german and italian leaders
president zielinski said ukraine has
never been closer to the european union
than it is now here's azadeh mushiri
ukraine's president called it a truly
historic day
describing a visit to kiev by some of
europe's most powerful leaders
from france germany and italy three of
the eurozone's largest economies as well
as romania and while president zielinski
has grown accustomed to receiving
politicians who wish to see the war
first hand this time he had clear
demands more weapons and shoring up
support for ukraine's candidacy to the
european union
ukrainians felt the support of four
powerful european states at once and in
particular support for our movement to
the european union italy romania france
and germany are with us
but up until this visit president
zielinski had criticized these leaders
arguing they weren't taking a tough
enough stance with russia
president mchale was accused of being
too soft with his words
and chancellor schultz too slow in
cutting off economic ties
perhaps that's why they were taken to
european a town decimated by russian
shelling
at the end of the visit france germany
and italy's leaders announced their
support for ukraine's immediate
candidate status
all four of us we support the status of
ukraine's candidacy for immediate
accession to the european union
this status will be accompanied we have
all said by a road map and also implies
a consideration of the western balkan
states and neighboring states in
particular moldova
those caveats signaled the long road
ahead for ukraine's accession to the
block
all 27 member states must agree to its
candidacy and then negotiations would
begin on what reforms would be needed
all this must happen without riling the
balkan states we've been queuing up to
join for years
azadeh mashiri bbc news