European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attend a meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine on November 4, 2023. (Photo: Reuters)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels-based executive will publish a report on Wednesday assessing progress achieved towards membership by EU hopefuls.

On a visit to Kyiv on Saturday, she praised Ukraine for making headway.

The report and recommendation will inform a key decision in December by a summit of the EU’s national leaders on whether to start formal membership negotiations with Kyiv. Such talks take years before candidates meet extensive legal and economic criteria to join.