Ukraine war: Five things you need to know about the conflict on Thursday
EU leaders are widely expected to endorse Ukraine as a candidate country to join the European Union.
While mostly symbolic, the status represents a stunning geopolitical victory for the war-torn country, who until earlier this year was never considered a serious contender to enter the 27-strong bloc. It is also seen as a rebuttal to Russia's coercive attempt to reinstate its lost sphere of influence.
The status is set to materialise in a two-day summit in Brussels, where the war, the food crisis, soaring inflation and Europe's security architecture are set to top the agenda.
"This is a decisive moment for the European Union," said European Council President Charles Michel on Thursday morning. "I’m confident that today we will grant the candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova."
The high-level meeting comes a week after a joint trip to Kyiv by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. The three leaders, speaking on behalf of the EU's three largest economies, delivered an unmistakable "yes" to granting the candidate status.
Prior to the Council summit, the European Commission issued a recommendation to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, while the European Parliament voted in support of their bids.
Moldova has also filed its EU membership application earlier this year, fearing that the Russian invasion of Ukraine might trigger a domestic conflict with the Moscow-backed separatist region of Transnistria.
The Russian military extended its grip Thursday on territory in eastern Ukraine, capturing two villages and vying for control of a key highway as it seeks to cut supply lines and encircle frontline Ukrainian forces, British and Ukrainian military officials
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