Ukrainian officials are embarking on a concerted diplomatic push to start the country’s journey towards EU membership, as scepticism seems to remain in a number of western European capitals. Many in Europe, including Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, have spoken in favour of putting Ukraine on an official path to EU accession by granting it candidate status. But many others remain unclear and seem to want to avoid official commitment.

In 2 weeks, the next European Council meeting will discuss Ukraine's EU candidate status. Ultimately, the decision might come down to personal discussion between European leaders at the summit. 

Let's be clear here: 

If European leaders keep going in the same way they were before 24 February, in terms of ambiguity and a lack of willingness to irritate Putin, this would be a major failure of Europe as a project. Ukraine wants and deserves a legal commitment and not a vague political promise.

We believe citizen initiatives such as this petition could help make European leaders realize that European citizens want this commitment and want to show Ukrainians that Ukraine will have a European future. We want to take this official decision of granting Ukraine the EU candidate status. Therefore, if our European leaders are against it, they cannot pretend it is because of their public opinion.

This is why we need your help and this petition needs to grow. We are very close to reaching 300,000 signatures and it would be very powerful if we could reach this milestone before the next European Council on the 23-24 June. Please share it with your friends and contacts and make it happen!

Thank you very much