President Volodimir Zelensky’s request will be discussed at the meeting on Thursday evening. Mark Rutte does not answer the question whether the Netherlands is for or against Ukraine’s accession to the European Union (EU). “It is not an issue now, because it can take years for a country to become a member. It is a slow process, which the Council and the Commission should look at first,” he said at the start of the summit. “Only then will we discuss what other Member States think about it. I said to Zelensky last week: I want to see what we can do in the short term to work more closely together. We are already doing that, and we can deepen that.”
‘Precedent’
Rutte is in any case not in favor of an accelerated admission procedure for Ukraine, which Zelensky has asked for. He is not alone in this. “Almost all the countries I speak to in Western Europe say you shouldn’t do that. I also told Zelensky that there is no such procedure at all.” Rutte is afraid to set a precedent. “We also have countries in the Western Balkans that have been trying to obtain candidate membership for years, such as Albania and Macedonia. We are all family, let’s see what we can do practically.”
Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrives at the castle of Versailles.
Ⓒ Photo ANP/HH
It is not yet clear what exactly ‘closer cooperation’ means. “We could meet more often with Ukraine and see what else we can do on a practical level. In addition to what we already contribute: providing defensive weapons, humanitarian aid, medicines and of course the sanctions we have imposed.” According to the prime minister, the country “belongs to the European family”.
‘Historical decisions’
Host Emmanuel Macron said he is hesitant about Ukraine joining. “Can you start an admission procedure with a country at war? I do not believe it. But should we slam the door and say it’s never possible? That would be unfair,” he said before opening the meeting.
On Thursday and Friday, government leaders will discuss the European Union’s response to the war in Ukraine. They will talk about increased defense cooperation, reducing dependence on Russian gas and building a stronger economic base. “We must show solidarity to build a common Europe,” said the French president. He hopes for ‘historical decisions’.