Ukraine's future is in the EU - Brussels officials

This is the moment the EU Council's president told Ukraine's president that his country belongs in the EU.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Kyiv, Charles Michel said Ukraine's future was with the European Union.

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Ukraine’s efforts to join the European Union have been the big topic of the day - and, according to Europe's Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, they're "advancing quite well".

A reminder that Ukraine gained EU candidacy status at record speed last June - but the process to become a fully-fledged member typically takes many years.

Speaking to BBC World earlier today, Dombrovskis said: "When Ukraine was given candidate country status, there were also certain policy conditions which Ukraine had to meet.

"And following [the] fulfilment of those commitments, one can indeed move to the next step which should be [the] opening of accession negotiations.

“We are already working on other aspects. For example, Ukraine's integration into the EU single market. And the action plan for that is being endorsed today in the EU-Ukraine summit.”

An update on Ukraine's progress towards membership is expected in the next few months with a more formal assessment to follow later in the year.

In case you missed it, here are some images from today's meeting between European officials and President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss Ukraine's entry to the EU.

The Ukrainian leader later held a press conference with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen.

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The Polish defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak has said Poland will soon start training Ukrainian troops on German-made Leopard tanks.

Poland plans to send 14 of its German-made Leopard 2 heavy battle tanks to Ukraine and has started the training process to enable Ukrainian soldiers to operate them.

“The first stage of transferring tanks to Ukraine is the training of Ukrainian soldiers. Poland has already set about working on this training. Ukrainian soldiers have been selected," the Polish defence ministry wrote on Twitter.

"In a short time, Ukrainian soldiers will be trained on Leopard tanks,” Mr Blaszczak said following a meeting in Kyiv with his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov.

Earlier we reported that the European Union has pledged a new €25m (£22m) package for humanitarian demining in Ukraine.

Video has been released of the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visiting a de-mining site outside Kyiv on Thursday.

During his tour of the site he met staff and was shown equipment used to detect mines.

A statement has just been released following today's summit in Ukraine, in which the EU said it would step up efforts "to use Russia's frozen assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.”

The EU is referring to Russian assets belonging to individuals linked to the Kremlin, which it sanctioned in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

Sanctions are penalties imposed by one country on another, to stop them acting aggressively or breaking international law.

They are among the toughest actions nations can take, short of going to war.

The US, EU, UK and other countries have sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and businesses - including so-called oligarchs.

These are wealthy business leaders who are thought to be close to the Kremlin, such as former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.

You can read more here.

As top European Union officials visit Ukraine, air raid sirens have been sounded for the second time in a day.

There were no immediate reports of any Russian air strikes on Kyiv throughout the day though.

The first alerts of the day interrupted a BBC broadcast this morning.

The second followed a news conference attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel.

This is awkward. President Zelensky reaffirms his hopes of starting accession negotiations this year; the next stage in the process of joining the EU.

As he said it, he was flanked by the EU’s two top officials, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen. The pair gave little away with their expressions, but both know Kyiv’s ambitious timeline for joining the bloc is widely viewed as completely unrealistic.

Not only this but, ask around in Brussels, and some people will quietly admit that Ukraine may never become a fully-fledged member.

Why? There are various reasons but one of them is its sheer size and geography; it would mark a huge addition to a union that already struggles for consensus on major issues.

Some observers believe that the recent creation of the “European Political Community” – a far more informal grouping – is partly a way of keeping countries like Ukraine close without letting them in the club.

It’s the brainchild of the French President Emmanuel Macron who once declared it would probably take “several decades” for Ukraine to join the EU.

You won’t hear people like Charles Michel or Ursula von der Leyen repeat that figure but you won’t hear them give an exact timeline either.

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We've just been hearing from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference with EU officials in Kyiv.

Here's a recap of the latest developments:

• EU leaders in Kyiv: President Zelensky is hosting European Union leaders in Kyiv to discuss Ukraine's entry to the bloc. Ukraine was granted official EU candidate status last June, but it could take years before Kyiv achieves full membership
• Ukraine's EU membership: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said there are no rigid timelines for when Ukraine could join the EU, but there are goals Kyiv must reach. EU chief Charles Michel said the EU would support Ukraine in any way it can
• Sanctions: Von der Leyen said the EU's next package of sanctions would target technology found in Russian missiles and drones. Zelensky called on the EU to ensure Russia cannot rebuild its military capability
• EU support package: Michel said €18bn (£16bn) of financial aid for Ukraine had already been lined up for 2023. Earlier, EU Commission Vice President Josep Borrell confirmed a €25m (£22m) package for humanitarian demining in Ukraine. He said demining action is crucial to saving lives there
• Germany approves tanks: Manufacturers in Germany have been authorised to send up to 88 Leopard 1 tanks to Kyiv in a bid to bolster Ukraine's fight against Russia. Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently agreed to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine amid pressure from other countries to send more military support to Ukraine

• Olympics boycott: Up to 40 countries are considering boycotting next summer's Paris Olympics if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete, Poland's Sport Minister Kamil Bortniczuk said

Speaking at the press conference earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his goal was "absolutely clear" to start Ukraine's EU membership negotiations.

"We will not lose a single day in our work to bring Ukraine and the EU closer together," Zelensky added.

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Some words now from EU chief Charles Michel, who said: "Ukraine is the EU, the EU is Ukraine."

Michel told reporters in Kyiv that the European Union would support Ukraine in any way it can.

"The EU is with you today, the EU will be with you and your people tomorrow."

Referring to Ukraine's bid to join the EU, he added: "Let's make it happen."

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At the same press conference, the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen said a 10th package of sanctions would target technology which the Russians have used in missiles and drones.

As Ukraine pushes forward with its goal to become a member of the EU, she added that she was “deeply impressed” with the reforms President Zelensky had carried out “in a short space of time”.

However, the presidents of the European Council and Commission said the process would be “goal based”, with a report next expected in spring on their application.

It typically takes years for countries to gain full membership.

During his press conference alongside European Union officials a short time ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the EU to make sure its sanctions targeting Russia were designed so that Moscow cannot rebuild its military capability.

Referring to fighting in the east, he said his troops would hold on to front-line town Bakhmut for as long as they can. He added that Ukraine would be able to end the Russian occupation in the eastern Donbas region more widely, if it received more long-range weapons.

On the subject of potential future EU membership for Ukraine, Zelensky reiterated that the aim was to start negotiations this year.

On a visit to Kyiv, senior officials from the European Union have said “Ukraine’s future is inside the EU”.

There was no mention of a timeline, but instead the presidents of the European Council and Commission said the process would be “goal based”, with a report next expected in spring on their application.

It typically takes years for countries to gain full membership.

“Let’s make it happen” were the enthusiastic words of the European Council’s President Charles Michel in a joint press conference after the summit.

He said the EU would support Ukraine in any way it can for as long as needed and added that they wouldn’t be intimidated by the Kremlin.

Michel said €18bn (£16bn) of financial aid for Ukraine had already been lined up for 2023.

The Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen said the 10th package of sanctions would target technology which the Russians have used in missiles and drones.

She added that she was “deeply impressed” with the reforms President Zelensky had carried out “in a short space of time”, as well confirm the delivery of 35 million energy-efficient LEDs.

President Zelensky expressed his “gratitude” for the measures and said his country’s integration with the EU was “irreversible”.

He said there had been discussions over frozen Russian assets being used to create the legal framework for Russian aggressors to one day face justice.

Ukraine’s leader said their priority was to “stop the future production of Russian missiles", as the majority of the ones used had been made before the war.

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We're getting a few lines in now from a press conference a short while ago with European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

We'll you bring you more lines from this and you can watch a replay of it at the top of the page.

As the EU-Ukraine summit takes place, daily life continues in Ukraine with people removing debris from recent shelling.

These pictures show people clearing up at the central market in Horlivka in the Donetsk region.

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Ukrainian authorities are pressing criminal charges against the boss of Russia's Wagner mercenary group.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, has recruited thousands of fighters, including convicts to wage war in Ukraine.

Before Russia's invasion, it is thought the Wagner Group had about 5,000 fighters but the UK's Ministry of Defence estimates it's now nearer 50,000.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said: "The head of this group is directly responsible for thousands of war crimes.

"He openly admits his role in the war against Ukraine and, with the Kremlin's permission, resolves staff issues by recruiting tens of thousands of prisoners."

Although mercenary forces are illegal in Russia, the Wagner Group registered as a company in 2022 and opened a new headquarters in St Petersburg.

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Up to 40 countries might boycott next summer's Paris Olympics if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allow Russians and Belarusians to compete, Poland's Sport Minister Kamil Bortniczuk says.

The row began last week when the IOC announced it would "explore a pathway" to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris under a neutral flag.

Bortniczuk says he believes it would be possible to build a coalition of 40 countries, including Great Britain, the United States and Canada, to support a block on the IOC's plans before a meeting on 10 February.

He adds: "If we were to boycott the Games, the coalition we will be a part of will be broad enough to make holding the Games pointless."

The IOC has reiterated that no discussions on the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the competition had yet taken place, and warned that a boycott is a violation of the Olympic charter.

Read more here.

As we reported a little earlier on, EU Commission Vice President Josep Borrell travelled to Kyiv alongside other EU leaders.

Ukraine is hosting a historic summit, as the war-torn country seeks to speed up its bid to join the European Union.

Borrell says the EU will commit to supporting Ukraine with a new €25m (£22m) package for humanitarian demining.

The EU official says "demining action is crucial" to save the lives of Ukraine's civilian population, and allow people to return to normal life.