Looking ahead to the EU-Ukraine summit on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a concrete prospect of his country joining the EU. “I believe that Ukraine deserves to reach the beginning of negotiations on EU membership this year already,” Zelensky said in his evening address on Thursday. Further integration into the European Union would give Ukrainians “energy and motivation… to fight despite any obstacles and threats.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel plan to meet Zelensky in Kiev on Friday. Ukraine has alrea…