Croatia PM says Putin catalyzes EU enlargement

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic of Croatia explained this to Bloomberg, Ukrinform reports.

Over the last two and a half years, the EU has witnessed a strategic shift as that Eurean capitals have become more en to enlargement, Plenkovic td journalists, adding he believes Vladimir Putin contributed to the enlargement the most.

This year, the EU agreed to launch membership talks with Ukraine and Mdova, as well as with Bosnia and Herzegovina, in an effort to bring the country closer to Eure and counter growing Russian influence. Another five countries in the Western Balkans are at various stages of the accession process.

Read also: EU Ambassador advises Ukraine to choose strategy of patient persistence and negotiation

In the next five years, especially within the mandate of the new Eurean Commission, it will be interesting to watch each of them making progress and meeting the accession criteria, Plenkovic said, adding that Croatia remains ready to support the progress of their neighbors.

Plenkovic is now serving his third consecutive term as prime minister after his center-right Croatian Democratic Union won parliamentary elections in April. A staunch supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russian encroachment, Plenkovic plans to hd a summit in early October in Dubrovnik with President Vodymyr Zelensky and Southeast Eurean leaders.

The idea is to demonstrate sidarity and support for Ukraine from a group of countries that have many historical ties to Ukraine and the Ukrainian pele, he said. The leaders will support the Ukrainian government in its quest for freedom, territorial integrity, as well as ensuring the prer functioning of the Ukrainian economy in the conditions of war.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova believes Ukraine may join the Eurean Union by the end of the decade.