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Kiev, Nov 4 (EFE).- The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, encouraged Kiev during a speech before the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) to make amendments to the minority law and continue fighting corruption to finish complying with European recommendations.
“The objective is really achievable,” said the president of the Commission, who on Wednesday must present the report on the degree of compliance with the seven requirements set by the EU for Ukraine, Moldova and Bosnia Herzegovina so that accession negotiations can begin. with these three candidate countries.
The final decision must be taken before the end of the year by the Member States based on the Commission’s report. Accession negotiations with kyiv will only begin if the states unanimously approve.
Von der Leyen affirmed that Ukraine has carried out “more than 90%” of the reforms that were requested of it, but recalled that it still must make changes to the minority law to guarantee rights such as receiving education in their own language to ethnic minorities. and cultural of the country.
Von der Leyen also mentioned among the pending issues to continue strengthening the transparency of politicians’ asset declarations and the fight against corruption and to approve a law on lobbying activities.
“These are the measures that are necessary to fully complete the seven steps,” said the German politician in reference to the requirements set by the EU in terms of rights and freedoms, the fight against corruption and the functioning of the rule of law.
Despite the imminence of the decision on the opening of negotiations, Von der Leyen told Ukrainian deputies that it is possible to meet all the conditions to achieve a positive EU recommendation.
In his meeting with Von der Leyen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky updated the president of the Commission on the work being carried out by Ukrainian institutions to comply with all recommendations on time.
According to a statement from the Ukrainian presidential office, bills are already registered in the Verkhovna Rada to improve the functioning of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, reduce the influence of oligarchs and improve the transparency of state institutions.
In his press conference with Von der Leyen, Zelensky expressed confidence in Ukraine’s chances of arriving fully prepared for the final exam and highlighted the motivating effect that a ‘yes’ from all member states would have on Ukrainian society and soldiers. who fight on the front “for EU values”.
In addition to reaffirming Brussels’ support for Kiev at a time when the war between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East is shifting the focus of attention from the war in Ukraine, Von der Leyen committed to Zelensky to propose “very soon” to EU countries approve a new package of sanctions against Russia.
This new round of punitive measures – which would be the twelfth approved by the EU since the beginning of the war – could include sanctions against Russian propagandists and against figures involved in the mass deportation of Ukrainian minors.
Another novelty, according to Von der Leyen, could be the introduction of “new bans on imports and exports” to and from Russia and “actions to adjust the cap on the price of gas”, adopted almost a year ago to deny the Kremlin resources with which to finance the aggression against Ukraine.
Zelensky has once again asked that the new package serve to prevent the sanctions that have been approved so far from being violated.
Kiev/Moscow, Nov 4 (EFE).- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted today that Ukraine “is tired” after five months of counteroffensive, but insisted on his country’s victory and asked the West for more help to stop the advance. Russian in the east of the country.
“Time has passed and people are tired. Everyone gets tired. It is understandable. But we are not in a desperate situation,” he said at a press conference after meeting in Kiev with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
He acknowledged that “Russia controls the airspace,” but that is something for which there are “quick solutions” such as increasing anti-aircraft defense.
In that sense, he insisted on the importance of cooperating with the West to strengthen anti-aircraft defense and unblock the sky to “allow our boys to advance” in the counteroffensive.
A little closer to the EU
For her part, the president of the European Commission brought a message of optimism to the Ukrainian capital today, highlighting that kyiv has made “excellent progress” on its path towards eventual accession to the EU.
“It is something impressive to see and we will witness it next week when the Commission presents its report on enlargement,” he said during his sixth visit to Ukraine since the start of the war.
Von der Leyen stressed that Ukraine is “deeply reforming” in the midst of an “existential” war and cited, in particular, the reform of the judicial system and measures to reduce the power of oligarchs and combat money laundering.
“I am confident that Ukraine will be able to achieve its ambitious goal of moving to the next stage in the accession process,” he added.
The European Commission is scheduled to present next Wednesday a report on the progress made by the candidate countries to join the EU in the future, with the question of whether Brussels will recommend opening Ukraine’s accession negotiations.
Tense situation in Avdivka
Meanwhile, the situation on the front remains tense: the Russians persist in their attempts to surround the city of Avdivka, in the Donbas region, regardless of the cost.
According to the intelligence department of the UK Ministry of Defense, “in the last three weeks, Russia has probably lost around 200 armored vehicles during its attacks on the town of Avdivka.”
For this reason, according to British intelligence, Russian forces have opted in this sector for “infantry assaults” without armor support.
“Like previous Russian offensives, the assaults on Avdivka have often been characterized by advances across open terrain, resulting in heavy losses,” which London estimated at “several thousand” in the past month.
However, the Russians do not seem to give up in their efforts to close the siege around the city: according to the spokesman for the 11th Motorized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army Anton Kotsukon, the enemy would be regrouping its forces in the face of a new massive attack.
“About 40,000 Russians have gathered, we have annihilated at least 5,000 and more than 120 combat machines,” he told Ukrainian television.
The American Institute for War Studies (ISW) reported that Russian forces “made confirmed advances on the northern flank of Avdivka.”
“Geolocated images (…) indicate that Russian forces advanced southwest of Krasnohirivka (4 km north of the city) towards the railway line north of Avdivka,” the ISW said.
Putin sends message of unity in Russia
Meanwhile, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, took advantage of the Day of National Unity, which commemorates the expulsion in 1612 of the Polish occupiers of Moscow, carried out by the popular militias of Kuzma Minin and Dmitri Pozharsky, to launch a message of unity and harmony national in times of war.
The president, accompanied by representatives of the country’s main religious denominations to demonstrate the country’s multinational and multidenominational cohesion, laid a wreath before the monument to the two heroes located in Moscow’s Red Square, a few meters from the Kremlin.
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