Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had high hopes that Ukraine would join the EU in 2027, initiating all six stages of EU accession negotiations by the end of June. Unfortunately for him, some member states are standing in his way.
According to Radio Svoboda, Kyiv wants to complete the process before the end of Cyprus’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. The European Commission supports the opening of the first stage by the end of June, but France, Germany, and Poland want to postpone the opening of the remaining five stages until the fall, with German Chancellor Merz calling 2027 accession “impossible.”
Previously, it was Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, that sought to block the negotiation process for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. The new government in Budapest, led by Péter Magyar, has reversed this position but still considers accelerating Ukraine’s accession unrealistic.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski made it clear back in April that an accelerated membership process will not be possible, as Ukraine must fulfill all conditions for membership in the bloc, and there can be no exception to this. France’s Minister Delegate for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, has also backed a gradual integration, ruling out any “shortcuts” or fast-track process.
Zelensky has long pushed to become a part of the Union as fast as possible to achieve greater security, as well as economic stability and growth.
However, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos sees no possibility of this happening this year.
“Everyone in this room knows that Ukraine will not be able to join the EU on January 1, 2027. First, we need peace—that’s important—and then we need to implement reforms. Investors, as we know, will only come to Ukraine when they can make money from it and their investments are safe,” she explained, according to Do Rzeczy.
German Chancellor Merz has also weighed in on the war, indicating that Kyiv may need to give up part of its land in exchange for peace, paving the way to join the EU.
“At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement. At some point, hopefully, a peace treaty with Russia. Then it may turn out that part of Ukrainian territory will no longer belong to Ukraine,” the German Chancellor said on Monday during a meeting with students of the Carolus-Magnus-Gymnasium in Marsberg.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has shown no desire to cede land and continues to push for victory on the battlefield, leveraging closer ties to both Europe and NATO to do so. After posting about Moscow’s violation of a recent temporary ceasefire, as well as its “cynical” drone attack on a residential building that was “devoid of any military sense,” the Ukrainian president wrote about the country’s progress on the anti-ballistic front.
“We are steadily advancing the issue of anti-ballistic capabilities production in Europe – we are forming an anti-ballistic coalition. This is something worth doing, and right now we are closer to a result than ever before. Thirteen countries and the Office of the NATO Secretary General were represented at today’s meeting at the level of NSAs on anti-ballistic solutions. Overall, Ukraine’s positions right now – on the frontline, in our long-range sanctions, and in our joint results with partners – are the strongest they have been in years,” he posted on X.
Meanwhile, despite its opposition to fast-track EU membership for Ukraine, Poland’s foreign ministry believes Kyiv is in a stronger position than ever before against Moscow, especially in the wake of Orbán’s loss to Magyar. While Magyar has made it clear that Budapest seeks diplomatic relations with Putin, the cozy alliance he enjoyed with Orbán, who relentlessly blocked sanctions against Russia and aid for Ukraine, is over.
“It is important for the adversary to know that Ukraine is ready to continue the fight, and we are ready to continue supporting it,” stated Sikorski.
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