What does EU candidate status for Ukraine really mean, and what have Europe's leaders really offered Volodymyr Zelensky? In the end, it was more just than a photo op. On a visit to Kyiv, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Mario Draghi and Klaus Iohannis backed the idea of Ukraine joining the EU, or at least for it to be granted "candidate status" to the club.
And that is not the only headline to come out of this Thursday's press conference. France is to deliver six more Caesar howitzers, weapons aimed at re-energising the Ukrainian defence in the Donbas, as Russia squeezes the city of Severodonetsk. This is a major symbolic show of support for Ukraine, but to what end?
Do France, Italy and Germany now really believe that Ukraine can win the war? Or is pressure being put on Zelensky behind the scenes to sit down at the negotiating table?
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Elise Marné and Imen Mellaz.
