The President of Ukraine demanded a clear answer from the EU

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Dutch broadcaster NOS that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte needed to clarify whether Ukraine has a future in the European Union.

Prime Minister Rutte is among a number of leading EU politicians who are skeptical about Ukraine’s quick accession to the bloc.

Prime Minister Rutte spoke by phone with President Zelensky on May 26, two weeks after he spoke online before the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev.

Prime Minister Rutte expressed support for Ukraine in the conflict with Russia but did not give any indication as to whether Kiev’s application to join the EU will be accepted in the near future.

“I said very openly to him: If you think there is no place for us in the EU, then you should say it very clearly, but he is silent about all the things we want to hear. EU membership is a sign of strength in the war we are waging with Russia at home,” Zelensky told NOS television.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has previously warned that for Ukraine to quickly become an EU member – as proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen – would not be fair to long-lined candidate countries like Turkey and Montenegro.

Addressing Dutch lawmakers earlier this month, Prime Minister Rutte said that Ukraine would need to implement many reforms before it could be considered a viable candidate and that the current candidacy was “very distant”. for Kiev.

French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune also stated earlier this month that Ukraine could take “15 or 20 years” to join the EUwhile German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned in March that “joining the EU is not something that can be done in a few months”.

French President Emmanuel Macron proposed inviting Ukraine to join the so-called “European political community” as a temporary alternative, which President Zelensky rejected outright.

Ukraine’s corruption record is seen as a major obstacle to EU membership. The country is ranked as the most corrupt in Europe and one of the most corrupt in the world.

Speaking to NOS, President Zelensky dismissed these concerns, asking interviewer Marielle Tweebeeke: “How do you know that there is corruption in Ukraine? Do you live here?”.

When asked about these corruption allegations that were raised in “official reports”, such as the Panama Papers, Mr. Zelensky countered: “What makes them official?”.

However, Mr. Zelensky admitted “there is corruption. Corruption exists in many countries, including many EU countries. There are reforms that we still need and want to make.”

Last month, sources EU told Bloomberg that a preliminary decision on Ukraine’s candidacy could be made as early as June.