The European Commission plans to recommend granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership on June 17, but with certain conditions, Bloomberg reports citing its own sources..

These conditions include strengthening the rule of law and strengthening the fight against corruption..

The opinion, to be adopted by the panel of commissioners, requires the unanimous approval of 27 member countries before Ukraine can move forward with the application.. This stage opens the difficult process of gaining membership, which can take more than 10 years, during which the country must accept EU rules and standards..

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had a long discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a questionnaire submitted by the Ukrainian government in mid-April to assess the country's readiness to become a member of the bloc. The commission's panel of commissioners will hold an indicative debate on the matter on Monday before making a decision..

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A number of member states, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Portugal, remain skeptical about the emergence of any fast path to the EU for Kyiv. Some argue that the country does not sufficiently implement EU principles related to the rule of law or fundamental rights, while others argue that Ukraine should not be given preference over other applicants due to the ongoing war..

Poland, Lithuania and Ireland support Ukraine's candidacy for EU membership, and some are ready to support candidate status as a moral boost for Ukraine amid Russia's invasion. Von der Leyen has repeatedly said that Ukraine belongs to the European family and that she and her colleagues want Ukraine to be in the European Union.

EU leaders to discuss Ukraine's bid to join the bloc during the next summit on June 23-24 in Brussels.

Moldova and Georgia have also recently applied for EU membership and are awaiting the Commission's decision..

Recall that the European Parliament supported a resolution with a recommendation to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership.. The Ukrainian authorities are counting on the decision of the European Union to grant the status of a candidate for EU membership in June. Igor Zhovkva, deputy head of the presidential office, is sure that this is the key to victory in the war against the Russian Federation.