European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will release a report on November 8 assessing the progress of countries aspiring to join the EU, including Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
The report will set out the commission's view on whether formal negotiations with countries should begin once they meet reform conditions, Reuters reported. A decision will be taken at an EU summit in December.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on November 4.
Negotiations typically take years, until candidate countries meet the union’s legal and economic criteria. The EU is also reluctant to admit a country in conflict, according to Reuters.
During a visit to Kyiv over the weekend, von der Leyen praised Ukraine for the progress it had made. In June, the European Commission said Ukraine had met two of the seven conditions for starting accession talks.
"You have made excellent progress. You are fighting a battle for survival and at the same time deeply reforming the country," von der Leyen told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, highlighting reforms related to the judiciary, controlling oligarchs and tackling money laundering.
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Ms. von der Leyen said that Ukraine will soon fulfill the remaining conditions related to fighting corruption and protecting the rights of minorities. President Zelensky said that his country will fulfill the conditions and that the positive decision of the EU will motivate society and soldiers.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna is also confident that Kyiv will receive a positive decision. She asserted that Ukraine will meet the necessary criteria for membership within two years and does not want to be given any relaxation of the conditions.
"We don't want any concessions due to the war. The two-year time frame we are talking about is just to make sure we are ready for membership," The Guardian quoted Ukraine's deputy prime minister as saying.
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