Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has signed an application for the country to join the European Union.
The move was announced as a "historic moment" by the Parliament of Ukraine on Twitter.
A New York Times journalist shared images of Zelensky singing the application form, as the president has called for Ukraine to be immediately accepted into the 27-country bloc.
Per Reuters, EU leaders may discuss the possibility of Ukrainian membership at an informal summit in March, according to a senior EU official.
The official said, per Reuters: "I think one of the reasons that this is important for President Zelenskiy is also potentially in some of the discussions with Russia on a way out."
However, the official added that no process had been started yet, saying: "On the application (of Ukraine for EU membership) I think it's important not to get ahead of ourselves. It obviously has not yet been received, but this whole question of the Ukraine situation is something that’s very much on the minds of the leaders."
Ukraine is currently on the fifth day of an invasion from neighboring Russia.
In a video speech, he said: "We ask the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession under a new special procedure.
"Our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. I’m sure that’s fair. I am sure we deserve it."
Earlier today, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Ukraine is "one of us and we want them in the European Union".
Speaking to Euronews, Ms von der Leyen said: "We have a process with Ukraine that is, for example, integrating the Ukrainian market into the single market.
"We have very close cooperation on the energy grid, for example. So many topics where we work very closely together and indeed over time, they belong to us. They are one of us and we want them in."
Zelensky has been widely praised by leaders and media outlets across the globe for his response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggressive military operation in Ukraine, which he launched last week.
Zelensky claimed that the conflict had been damaging for Russia's military, saying that 4,500 Russian soldiers had already been killed.
He also paid tribute to the tragic loss of Ukrainian children, saying that 16 have been killed and 45 wounded since fighting broke out several days ago.
