Kiev, 11 June 2022 (dpa/MIA) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has arrived in Kiev to discuss Ukraine's application for European Union membership. She plans to discuss unresolved aspects of Ukraine's bid with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The European Commission is expected to publish its assessment on whether Ukraine should be granted EU candidate status next Friday. "We will weigh up the joint efforts needed for reconstruction and of Ukraine's progress on its European path," von der Leyen said upon arrival in Kiev. "This will contribute to our assessment, which we will present soon." This is the second time von der Leyen visits Ukraine since the start of the war in February. In April, she visited the Kiev suburb of Bucha, where hundreds of civilian bodies were found following the withdrawal of Russian troops, causing outrage worldwide. Ukraine submitted an EU membership bid in March, shortly after Russia launched its invasion on February 24. EU states subsequently instructed the executive to make a recommendation.