Eu Parliament Votes to Advance Ukraine’s Application for EU Membership

The European Parliament voted Tuesday to advance Ukraine’s application for membership in the European Union after Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky made an emergency appeal to the body amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.

An overwhelming majority of European Parliament representatives voted for accepting Ukraine, with 637 in favor, 13 against, and 26 choosing to abstain.

However, Ukraine’s application is not being fast-tracked. Countries are generally required to go through a number of steps in order to obtain membership, and the process can last years.

 “There is still a long path ahead,” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told E.U. lawmakers in Brussels on Tuesday. However, no one “can doubt that a people that stand up so bravely for our European values belong in our European family.”

German unfamiliar clergyman Annalena Baerbock additionally showed that the interaction could consume most of the day.

"Promotion isn't something that can be finished in a couple of months, yet includes an escalated and sweeping course of change," Baerbock said on Monday, in remarks announced by Bloomberg.

Zelensky approached the European Parliament to "demonstrate that you are with us" in a location on Tuesday.

"We have demonstrated our solidarity. We have demonstrated that we are very much like you," Zelenskyy said. "Demonstrate that you are with us. Demonstrate that you don't release us. Demonstrate that you are really European."

Zelensky marked an application to join the E.U. on Monday. The Ukrainian president has over and again engaged E.U. countries and individuals from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for help in repulsing Russia's intrusion.