(MENAFN) On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed Dutch network NOS that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte must specify if Ukraine has a future in the European Union. Rutte is among leading EU leaders who have questioned Ukraine's quick membership to the club.

Rutte called Zelensky on Thursday, May 26th, after fortnight essentially addressing the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev. Rutte voiced his backing for Ukraine in its fight with Russia, but he did not say if Kiev's candidacy for EU membership will be granted in the near term.

"I said very openly to him: If you think there is no place for us in the EU, then you should say so clearly,” Zelensky told NOS. “You really help us and I am very grateful for that,” he remembered telling Rutte, ”but as far as the EU is concerned, you stayed silent on all the things we wanted to hear.”

He added, “EU membership is a sign of strength in the fight we are waging against Russia at home.”

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