EU preparing unique accession format for Ukraine, Bloomberg reports
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, António Costa, and Ursula von der Leyen (Getty Images)
The European Union is preparing a range of options for including Ukraine’s membership in a future peace agreement. This could be gradual and involve granting Kyiv preliminary protection, Bloomberg reports.
Read also: Ukraine expects political decision on EU membership in 2027, presidential office says
Sources told the outlet that among the options being considered are granting Ukraine preliminary protection as well as immediate access to certain membership rights.
In addition, other options are being discussed, including continuing the existing accession path or introducing a transitional period with gradual EU membership.
At the same time, according to the sources, the bloc will provide Ukraine with a clear timeline of steps it must take to advance the official procedure.
"Kyiv’s future accession to the EU is part of the discussion on a peace agreement," a European Commission representative said in response to Bloomberg’s questions.
The outlet notes that Ukraine’s 20-point peace plan draft envisages its EU membership by 2027, with Kyiv receiving certain membership benefits during an interim period.
Ukraine’s EU accession
In December 2025, information emerged that, in the event of a peace agreement and the end of the war, Ukraine would join the European Union by January 1, 2027.
Recently, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed that Ukraine’s EU membership by January 1, 2027, is part of the plan to end the war.
Ukraine has also confirmed that the US peace plan sets the EU accession date as 2027. However, there is a nuance — the provision is being reviewed due to objections from certain EU member states.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine’s accession to the EU on January 1, 2027, is impossible. According to him, each candidate country must meet the Copenhagen criteria, which takes several years.
