The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, signed this Monday, February 28, the application for the country’s entry into the European Union (EU). “It is a historic moment,” says a message from the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) on Telegram, where the Ukrainian president can also be seen at the time of signing the document.

“With this letter, Ukraine, as a European state that respects the values enshrined in article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, has the honour to apply for membership of the EU in accordance with article 49 of the Treaty on European Union,” declared in the document.

Earlier, Ukraine and Russia had concluded negotiations in Pripyat, on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. The talks take place on the fifth day of the war started by Vladimir Putin and on a day that, according to the Ukrainian authorities, may be “key”.

The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Peksov, did not want to comment in his daily telephone press conference on the expectation of an agreement at the meeting. Meanwhile, he asked everyone to let the negotiators work without noise from the outside.“Actually, I suggest we wait for the talks. I prefer not to announce any demands (ours). Negotiations must be conducted in silence.”, said.

The Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenskyy, urged hours earlier in a video message – in which he addressed the Russian soldiers – to leave Ukraine and lay down their arms. Regarding the negotiations, the president has been pessimistic, but he believes that they are“an opportunity, albeit a small one”, for de-escalation.

While the talks take place, Kyiv resists the Russian advance and fighting continues in Kharkov and other cities.

The Mayor of Brovary was injured after a Russian airstrike

Russia was excluded from the World Cup by its organizer, FIFA, which announced on Monday the suspension of Russian national teams and clubs “until further notice”, in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine, in a joint statement with the Confederation. European (UEFA).

The Russians, hosts of the last World Cup, in 2018, are thus disqualified from the playoffs of the next edition, which were to be played at the end of March with a ticket at stake for Qatar-2022 (November 21-December 18), and their The women’s team will not be able to play the European Championship in England in July. Spartak Moscow, the last Russian club in European competition this season, is also excluded.