EU officials recommend Ukraine be granted candidate status – first step in long process

European Union officials on Friday recommended that Ukraine be granted candidate status to join the 27-nation bloc – marking a first step in the membership process that could take decades for the war-torn country.

Ukraine, an Eastern European country and former Soviet Bloc nation, has sought protection from the EU amid being invaded by the Russia for roughly the past four months. 

While Russia's hopes of swiftly winning its war against neighboring Ukraine have faded, Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces continue to make gains toward achieving their goal of overpowering Ukraine, which has sought to move away from Russia and make closer ties with Western allies. 

Russian artillery fire continues to kill civilians and flatten cities. Russia is focusing its attacks on cities in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, according to the Associated Press.