Factbox-Ukraine's road to becoming European Union member

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, France's President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meet for a working session in Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 16, 2022. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's executive on Friday supported giving formal membership candidate status to Ukraine and made similar recommendations for two other former Soviet states, a major political shift brought about by Russia's invasion.

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