Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky's request for his war-wracked country to join the European Union should be granted, Italy's foreign undersecretary Benedetto Della Vedova told Adnkronos Live in an interview, cautioning that the process would take time.
The EU should heed the very powerful appeal that Zelensky made from a secret bunker to the European Parliament via video link on Tuesday, a day after Ukraine officially asked to joint the EU, Della Vedova argued.
"I believe we should say yes to Ukraine's aspiration, as did the European Parliament, in the knowledge that starting Ukraine's adhesion process does not mean it will enter the EU within months, a semester or two or a year," Della Vedova said.
"It is a very strong political and symbolic move," he underlined.
EU lawmakers gave Zelensky a standing ovation as he asked the bloc "to prove you are with us". The dramatic appeal came after the presidents of eight central and eastern European nations published an open letter on Monday calling for Ukraine to be granted immediate EU candidate status and for the start of formal membership talks.
European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen warmly received Ukraine's application to join the bloc, but while there are precedents for fast-tracking, a speedy approach is rare. EU candidates must be approved by all 27 member states and the adhesion process can take up to 10 years.
