Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Kyiv for talks on Ukraine’s push to join the European Union. EU officials have said Ukraine’s accession to the 27-member bloc will, at a minimum, take several more years, as Ukraine needs to ensure more anti-corruption measures. At Thursday’s summit, von der Leyen also said the commission will set up a dedicated office at The Hague to prosecute war crimes committed by Russia during its war on Ukraine.
Her remarks came as Russian President Vladimir Putin compared Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II. Putin spoke at a ceremony in Volgograd commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Red Army’s victory over Nazi forces.
President Vladimir Putin: “Now, unfortunately, we see that the ideology of Nazism, in its modern form and manifestation, once again directly threatens the security of our country. Again and again, we have to repel the aggression of the collective West.”