Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend a summit of EU leaders in Brussels this morning following his surprise appearances yesterday at the House of Commons in London and last night in Paris
Leo Varadkar, who is attending his first EU summit since becoming Taoiseach for a second time, said ahead of the meeting that Ukraine's application for EU membership should be progressed as soon as possible.
Mr Zelensky is on record as saying the decision should be taken later this year, but member states are divided over how quickly to accelerate the process of Ukraine's accession. That means the focus will be on strengthening the EU's external borders, with the possibility that leaders could approve the use of EU funding to build a fence on the Bulgarian-Turkish border.
"The EU is rooted in freedom, democracy, the rule of law and a desire for peace. It continues to offer the hope of a better future to millions of fellow Europeans, from Ukraine and Moldova to the western Balkans, many of whom dream of joining the European Union and becoming EU citizens. All Member States, including Ireland, are experiencing increased numbers of migrants arriving at a time when we are also hosting large numbers fleeing the war in Ukraine.
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