EU weighs advancing Ukraine's membership bid as Russia war drags on

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attend a press conference, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine November 4, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union executive is expected to recommend taking Ukraine one step closer to becoming a member of the bloc this week, according to EU officials, a coveted prize for Kyiv as weariness creeps in nearly two years after Russia's invasion.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels-based executive will publish a report on Wednesday assessing progress achieved towards membership by EU hopefuls. On a visit to Kyiv on Saturday, she praised Ukraine for making headway.