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European Union dashes Ukraine's hopes of quick membership
The Russian invasion - the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two - has upended Europe's security order and spurred EU capitals into rethinking what the bloc should stand for, its economic, defence and energy policies.
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A photograph taken on March 10, 2022 shows the European Union flag flying under the Arc de Triomphe, on the Place de l'Etoile in Paris, to mark the EU leaders' Versailles summit held on March 10 and 11. EU leaders will scramble on March 10, 2022 to find ways to urgently address the fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that has imperilled the bloc's economy and exposed a dire need for a stronger defence. (AFP/Ludovic Marin)
E
uropean Union leaders on Thursday condemned the "unspeakable suffering" Russia was inflicting on Ukraine but at a summit in France they refused Kyiv's appeal for rapid accession to the bloc and differed over the reach of sanctions against Moscow.
The Russian invasion - the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two - has upended Europe's security order and spurred EU capitals into rethinking what the bloc should stand for, its economic, defence and energy policies.
The EU was swift in imposing sweeping sanctions and offering political and humanitarian support to Ukraine, as well as some arms supplies, in the days after Russia attacked on Feb.24.
However, cracks have appeared in the bloc's united front, from its reaction to Kyiv's demand for an accelerated membership of the wealthy club to how fast it can wean itself off Russian fossil fuels and how best to shape an economic response.
"Nobody entered the European Union overnight," Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said as talks among the 27 national leaders ended at wee hours on Friday.
The leaders chairman, Charles Michel said in a show of sympathy and moral support: "Ukraine belongs to the European family."
But others made clear Ukraine would not be allowed to join hastily, something Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought and which has some support from Ukraine's neighbours on the EU's eastern flank.
