Ursula von der Leyen tells Zelenskyy opinion on EU membership ready next week

The move, whose timing was widely expected, would only be a preliminary step in a long process

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenin Kyiv. Picture: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Kyiv that the EU executive's opinion on Ukraine's request to join the European Union would be ready by the end of next week.

In a joint news conference in Kyiv, von der Leyen said Saturday's discussions with Zelenskyy "will enable us to finalise our assessment by the end of next week," about whether to recommend Ukraine as a candidate for membership.