Ahead of the visit, Macron and Scholz had faced mounting political pressure over what has been cast by critics as hesitancy over their backing of Ukraine. The leaders’ Kyiv visit came a day before the European Union’s executive arm is expected to recommend that Ukraine be granted candidate status. While support from Germany, France, Italy, Romania and the Commission will add momentum to Ukraine’s campaign for candidacy, all 27 member states still need to agree — and E.U. Scholz had declined a return visit after Ukrainian leaders told German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that his ties to Russia made him unwelcome. leaders to focus on that timeline seemed a central goal of Ukrainian leaders in Thursday’s visit.

Source: Washington Post June 17, 2022 06:17 UTC