Yesterday, the European Union gave its blessing to Ukraine and Moldova to become candidates for membership in the bloc, which would be a major geopolitical change as a result of the Russian invasion.
"Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference, dressed in Ukrainian colors - a yellow blazer over a blue shirt. "We want them to live the European dream with us."
Although it is the start of a process that could take years, it puts Ukraine on the path to achieving an aspiration that was beyond its reach just a few months ago.
Ukraine applied to join the EU four days after Russian troops crossed its border in February. Four days later, Moldova and Georgia, smaller former Soviet states that also have separatist areas occupied by Russia, did the same.
"It is the first step on the path to EU membership that will certainly make our victory closer," announced President Volodymyr Zelensky on Twitter. "It is precisely because of the courage of the Ukrainians that Europe can create a new history of freedom, and finally remove the gray zone in Eastern Europe between the EU and Russia."
One of the main goals of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion was to stop the eastward spread of Western institutions.
Reuters writes that yesterday's announcement highlights the opposite effect of the war - it convinced Finland and Sweden to seek NATO membership, and now the EU to embark on potentially the most ambitious expansion since it took in Eastern European states after the Cold War.
Putin said yesterday that he has no objections to Ukraine joining the EU.
"We have nothing against it. It is not a military bloc. Every country has the right to join economic alliances," Putin answered when asked about Ukraine's prospects for joining the EU.
Russia has criticized Ukraine's attempts to join NATO for years, and the issue has become the heart of the conflict between Moscow and the West.
Before ordering the invasion of Ukraine, Putin sought legal guarantees from the US that Ukraine would not be accepted into the military alliance.
Earlier yesterday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin is closely monitoring Ukraine's efforts to become a member of the EU, particularly in light of increased military cooperation among the bloc's 27 members.
Speaking at a forum in St Petersburg, Putin questioned whether it was "advisable" for the EU to allow Ukraine to join, saying Kiev would need huge economic subsidies that other EU members may not be willing to provide.
Putin blasted the US for considering itself "God's emissary on Earth", said Western intransigence had left Russia no choice but to launch a "special military operation" in Ukraine and vowed to override Western sanctions
EU leaders are expected to adopt the European Commission's recommendations at a summit next week. The leaders of the largest - Germany, France and Italy - demonstrated solidarity on Thursday by visiting Kiev, together with the President of Romania.
Moldovan President Maja Sandu welcomed the "strong signal of support for Moldova and our citizens" and said her government was ready to work hard on the process.
Putin lashed out at the West in St. Petersburg in a speech at an annual economic conference dubbed the "Russian Davos" but now widely boycotted by Western political and business leaders.
He blasted the US for considering itself "God's emissary on Earth", said Western intransigence had left Russia no choice but to launch a "special military operation" in Ukraine and vowed to override Western sanctions.
"We are strong people and we can deal with any challenge. Like our ancestors, we will solve any problem, the entire thousand-year history of our country speaks of this," Putin said.
He also said that Russia expects to restore relations with Ukraine after the end of the "special military operation" in that country.
During a question-and-answer session with Kazakh President Kassim Zomart Tokayev, Putin said: "Sooner or later, the situation will return to normal."
The EU commission recommended candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova, but not for Georgia, which it said must first meet additional conditions.
Joining the EU requires years of administrative reforms - there are 35 negotiating chapters that set standards to be met in areas ranging from judicial policy and financial services to food safety. Membership is not guaranteed, and negotiations with Turkey, which has been a candidate since 1999, have been stalled for years.
Ukraine would be the largest EU member by area and fifth by population. All three ex-Soviet countries seeking to join are far poorer than any existing EU member, with GDP per capita around half that of the current poorest, Bulgaria.
All three have recent histories of unstable politics, domestic unrest, entrenched organized crime and unresolved conflicts with Russian-backed separatists who claim sovereignty over territory protected by Moscow's troops.
But with Zelenskiy, 44, and Sandu, 50, Ukraine and Moldova now have pro-Western leaders with strong electoral mandates, representing a generation that came of age outside the Soviet Union.
The last foreign official to visit Kiev is British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who arrived yesterday for his second visit since the start of the war, offering training for Ukrainian troops.
He said he came with the aim of sending "a clear and simple message to the Ukrainian people: Great Britain is with you, and we will be with you until you win in the end".
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