In Brussels Friday, members of the European Commission have recommended that Ukraine should be granted EU candidate status, a first step on the long road toward membership for the war-torn country.

The recommendation from the EU’s executive arm will now be discussed by leaders of the 27-nation bloc during a summit next week in Brussels.

Launching accession talks requires unanimous approval from all member countries.

In Brussels Thursday, Canada’s Defence minister Anita Anand joined her NATO counterparts where they discussed the war in Ukraine.

“We will ensure that we provide military aid to Ukraine in the short and long term,” Anand explained Thursday, “I announced yesterday (Wednesday) that we will provide barrels for the M-777 (howitzers) in addition to the 155 artillery (37 155-millimetre guns).”

The barrels on modern artillery guns have to be replaced after firing up to 2500 rounds.

The announcement at NATO headquarters came as the United States outlined $1-billion in additional military aid for Ukraine, including previously announced and anticipated shipments of military equipment.