Zelenskyy's EU accession stance frustrates European leaders — FT
Photo: Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s persistent efforts to secure Ukraine’s rapid accession to the EU are heightening tensions with European capitals, according to the Financial Times.
According to the FT, the refusal of EU leaders to accelerate Ukraine’s accession process has caused disappointment in Kyiv, and the increasingly Eurosceptic rhetoric of Zelenskyy’s administration is undermining efforts to find a compromise.
In recent weeks, France and Germany have proposed a phased process under which Ukraine would receive symbolic benefits and gradual access to EU mechanisms in exchange for completing reform milestones.
According to officials, this would mean that full membership would be at least ten years away.
Responding last week in Kyiv to journalists’ questions about the Franco-German proposal, Zelenskyy called on the EU to be fair and stated that Ukraine did not need symbolic membership.
According to two senior Ukrainian officials, Zelenskyy instructed his diplomats not to consider or even engage in any discussions with EU governments regarding such proposals, but to speak only of full EU membership.
One of the Ukrainian officials says that they will not even discuss it
During an informal summit in Cyprus in April, several EU leaders tried to temper the Ukrainian President’s expectations, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
An unnamed official says that Zelenskyy had to hear some hard truths and that it would not be as easy as he thought
However, Zelenskyy is determined to defend his maximalist position, Ukrainian senior officials say.
One of them notes that Kyiv believes that the EU will eventually become more realistic and move closer to the Ukrainian position.
Several EU diplomats said they understand the pressure Zelenskyy is under after four years of war and appreciate his frustration.
But they emphasize that the enlargement process must remain merit-based, and point out that with the cessation of direct military and financial support from the US and a sense of alienation from the peace process, the EU is now Ukraine’s most important partner.
An unnamed official says that they are the only friends Zelenskyy has and that he would probably be better off keeping his mouth shut.
EU diplomats and officials state that the country’s reform efforts have weakened, particularly in the critical areas of the rule of law and anti-corruption measures.
They also point to missed deadlines for implementing legislation that would allow Kyiv to gain broader access to EU energy and industrial goods markets.
Kyiv is also resisting Brussels’ request to raise taxes on businesses as a condition for releasing part of a €90 billion loan, arguing that this would be a burden on the economy.
An unnamed source says that their domestic reforms stalled, adding that it is bad and that everyone knew it
Ukraine's accession to the EU
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine expected to join the EU as early as 2027. However, in Europe, such timelines are considered overly optimistic.
In particular, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Ukraine’s accession as early as next year is unrealistic. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also spoke out against accelerated accession.
In addition, Hungary’s future Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated that Ukraine could not join the EU quickly due to the war.
At the same time, the European Union itself emphasizes the need to fulfill the conditions for membership. Thus, European Commissioner Marta Kos outlined the key requirements for accession.
Meanwhile, Western media note that some EU countries are wary of the bloc’s expansion and name the states that oppose Ukraine’s rapid accession.
