Senior EU officials will give their recommendation on whether to grant the country what's known as candidate status, but it's a long and complicated process to actually become a member.

Speaking.

After a visit by the french german and italian leaders, President Zelensky said Ukraine has never been closer to the european union than it is now.

Here's a cd Moshiri, Ukraine's President called it a truly historic day describing a visit to Kiev by some of europe's most powerful leaders from France Germany and Italy, three of the eurozone's largest economies as well as Romania.

And while President Zelensky has grown accustomed to receiving politicians who wish to see the war first hand this time, he had clear demands more weapons and shoring up support for Ukraine's candidacy to the european Union, Ukraine has felt the support of four powerful european states at once and in particular support for our movement to the european union.

Italy Romania France and Germany are with us.

But up until this visit, President Zelensky had criticized these leaders, arguing they weren't taking a tough enough stance with Russia.

President Macron was accused of being too soft with his words and Chancellor schulz too slow in cutting off economic ties.

Perhaps that's why they were taken to europe in a town decimated by Russian shelling at the end of the visit France Germany and Italy's leaders announced their support for Ukraine's immediate candidate status.

The cat all four of us, we support the status of Ukraine's candidacy for immediate accession to the european union.

This status will be accompanied we have all said by a road map and also implies the consideration of the Western balkan states and neighboring states, in particular Moldova.

Those caveats signaled the Long Road ahead for Ukraine's accession to the block.

All 27 member states must agree to its candidacy and then negotiations would begin on what reforms would be needed.

All this must happen without riling.

The balkan states have been queuing up to join for years as the day Moshiri BBC News.