Only the first step in a process that could take decades but the promise of European Union membership holds deep symbolism for the nation at war.

While the European leaders were in the capital, NATO defense ministers were meeting in Brussels to discuss plans for strengthening the military alliance’s eastern borders to dissuade Russia from planning any further aggression.

The U.S. State Department said it was looking into reports that Russian or Russian-backed separatist forces in Ukraine had captured at least 2 American citizens.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the painstaking fight for Sievierodonetsk is perhaps one of the most difficult battles of the war.