Where will Emmanuel Macron be this Thursday? Diplomatically, the answer to this question is particularly important. The French president and his German and Italian counterparts are indeed expected in kyiv. However, the Elysée has not confirmed this trip, which would be particularly symbolic when France currently chairs the European Union.
The Head of State also sent signals to kyiv on Wednesday, visiting a NATO base in Romania. “I think we are at a time when we, the European Union, need to send clear political signals to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in a context where they have been resisting heroically for several months” , he said, when asked about a possible trip to kyiv.
The question of Ukraine’s accession to the EU
Several Italian and German media have indicated that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will visit the Ukrainian capital on Thursday. This trip would be a first for the leaders of the three main countries of the European Union, since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
The three men are due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss, in addition to military support, Ukraine’s request to join the European Union. France, Germany and Italy are in favor of it, but in a more or less distant perspective. Ukraine expects no less from the European summit of 23-24 June the decision of the Twenty-Seven on its official application for membership, the start of a process of negotiations which may last several years.