Poland Prez to travel across Europe to convince bloc nations to support Ukraine's EU bid

Amid war between Moscow and Kyiv, Polish President Andrzej Duda has started his trip to sourn Europe to convince bloc countries to support granting Ukraine EU candidate status. During his tour of Sourn Europe, Duda will visit Portugal to meet Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Eurointegration reported.

After he visits Portugal, he will travel to Italy to hold talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella. 

development has been confirmed by Chancellery of President of Poland. Following his trip to Italy, he will be arriving in Romania to attend Bucharest Nine Summit. As per news report, Slovakian President Zuzana Chaputova was scheduled to accompany her Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda. However, Chaputova's trip has been cancelled as she tested positive for COVID-19.

During his meeting with leaders of Italy, Portugal and Romania, Duda will discuss on possibility of Ukraine's membership in EU, as per Eurointegration report. He will also speak about issue of food exports from Ukraine in his meeting with Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Polish President Andrzej Duda has informed that y will speak about measures that need to be taken to export grains from Ukraine. leaders of Poland and Slovakia in May anunced ir plans to convince bloc countries to support idea of granting Ukraine EU candidate status.

tably, Poland continues to support Ukraine since Russia began its offensive and has welcomed Ukrainian refugees into ir country. 

Ukrainian Parliament Chairman calls on EU to grant membership status to Ukraine

Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, called on EU to give candidate status to Ukraine. Stefanchuk asserted that refusal of EU would give an indication to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “he can be totally going forward without any punishment.”

As per AP report, European leaders are expected to consider Ukraine's bid for EU candidate status at end of June. In his speech, Ruslan Stefanchuk said, “Let’s do everything possible that on 24th of June we’ll see a watershed day, an important day for us, and our joint great victory,” according to AP.   European Parliament President Roberta Metsola welcomed speaker of Ukrainian Parliament for Plenary Session at EU Parliament in Strasbourg. In her speech, Metsola said that EU Parliament will continue to support Ukraine as y apply for EU candidate status. She stressed that y need to send a clear mess that "Ukraine's place is within our European family."

Im: AP

Inputs from AP