Headquarters of the European Union in Brussels. File photoMOSCOW, May 24.Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte believes that Ukraine's chances to soon receive the status of a candidate for EU membership are small, reports the NL Times, citing his speech in parliament. Rutte noted that before the start of Russia's special operation, Ukraine was «very far» from the status of a candidate . According to the prime minister, granting Ukraine a status would be unfair to the Balkan countries that are still waiting for it.Some EU countries are against candidate status for Ukraine, said in WarsawRutte believes that Ukraine could become a potential candidate for EU membership, Kyiv should explain what measures are needed to obtain this status so as not to «demotivate» the Ukrainian authorities. According to the publication, «too many «Countries in the EU don't like the idea of making Kyiv a candidate. The words of European leaders that Ukraine is part of the European family were more of an «emotional» than a «legal» statement, Rutte added. The Dutch prime minister also considers it unlikely that Moldova will soon receive the status of a candidate. According to the newspaper, in the lower house of the Dutch parliament, the ruling Democrats 66 (D66), as well as the opposition Labor Party (PvdA) and the Green Left (GroenLinks ). The ruling People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), led by Rutte, still «does not want» to grant status to Ukraine. Earlier, the speaker of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Oleg Nikolaenko, said that Ukraine expects to receive the status of a candidate for joining the European Union in June, having enlisted the support European countries. Clement Bon, Minister Delegate to the French Foreign Ministry for European Affairs, said that the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU could take 15-20 years. on the depletion of EU military stocks due to assistance to Ukraine
