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Ukraine hopes for progress on path to EU at Kyiv summit

Country gained EU candidate status in June last year

01 February, 10:25
(ANSA-AFP) - KYIV, FEB 1 - Ukraine will hold a summit with the European Union in Kyiv this week, the government announced Tuesday, as it expressed hope the conference would bring the war-battered nation closer to membership in the bloc almost a year after Russia launched its invasion. Kyiv also announced it expected to receive up to 140 modern battle tanks from its Western allies, while the prospect of more advanced weapons for Ukraine came from the United States. In his evening address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped the Friday summit would reflect a high "level of cooperation and progress" with the 27-member bloc, which Kyiv has long sought to join. "We are waiting for news for Ukraine," Zelensky said. The fact the summit is being held in the Ukrainian capital sends "a powerful signal to both partners and enemies", Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said. "It is a message that Europe believes in Ukraine's victory and supports our rapid movement towards EU membership," he said. Ukraine gained EU candidate status in June last year, several months after Vladimir Putin sent Russian troops rolling across the border. No details were provided on who would attend the summit from the European Union side.

(ANSA-AFP).

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