The European Union is not ready to offer membership to Ukraine, although such a possibility could arise in the future, President of the European Commission Jose Barroso said.
Barroso said Thursday Ukraine had not been offered EU membership because the bloc's member states were not ready "to integrate at this stage a country like Ukraine."
He emphasized that Ukraine was not ready to join the EU either.
"But we have always said the door is not closed to accession...so the possibility exists in the future," Barroso said.
Last week the recently formed government in Kiev signed the political chapters of an association agreement with the European Union, committing both sides to closer ties.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
