Former President Poroshenko asks to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate to join the EU in June

He says he hopes "nobody blocks his way" to the EPP congress in Rotterdam

MADRID, 30 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urged this Monday in a letter addressed to the country's president, Volodimir Zelensky, to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate for accession to the European Union by the end of June ahead of the congress of the European People's Party. (PPE) to be held on May 31 and June 1 in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.

In the letter, the former president, who is in the country to be tried for alleged treason, has indicated that he is addressing the congress of the "most influential political family in Europe", whose members "lead the structures of the EU and of many States member".

"There are decisions to be made. Among other things, we must raise the idea of ​​reinforcing the sanctions imposed against Russia, address the reconstruction mechanisms for the end of the war and assess the possibility of granting our country the status of a candidate to join to the bloc at the end of June," he said.

Thus, he has specified that he has an invitation from the president of the EPP, Donald Tusk, and that he plans to give a series of speeches during the congress. Poroshenko has lamented, however, that his trip to the NATO summit was "interrupted", but he has expressed that he hopes "conclusions have been made and no one stands in his way" to Rotterdam.

On the other hand, he has asserted that it is "extremely important to maintain unity and coordination to stop any internal attack and work together through all possible platforms, especially those of the EPP".

"I want to clarify that the main message that I send to Rotterdam is the need to give Ukraine a status of candidate for accession by the month of June" and has emphasized the importance of "confronting the aggression of (Vladimir) Putin and restore territorial integrity".

In this sense, he recalled that it is a "common" war. "We must give Ukraine the necessary weapons and impose sanctions against racists," says the text, which urges the launch of a kind of "Marshall plan 2.0 for reconstruction after the war."

"The Ukrainian people are going through a difficult time and deserve to have the wisdom of their politicians. The key to our success has always been a strong Army, comprehensive unity and great international support," he added.

Poroshenko had already promised on several occasions that he would defend the country from Russian aggression, but could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of the charges against him. Zelensky's Servant of the People party has accused Poroshenko of trying to create an "artificial scandal and provoke a civil confrontation" in the country.