All articles tagged with #eu membership
President Zelenskyy urged European Union leaders to begin Ukraine’s formal accession process now, arguing that associate membership would be unfair and leave Kyiv voiceless. The push follows shifts in Hungary that had blocked entry, while Kyiv wages a war with Moscow, reporting territorial gains and calls for diplomacy even as both sides strike energy infrastructure and repeat warnings of retaliation for attacks.
Zelensky told EU leaders that Germany’s proposal for Ukraine to join EU meetings as an 'associate' member is unfair because Kyiv would be voiceless; he urged a full, meaningful path to EU membership and cited Viktor Orban’s removal as an opportunity to accelerate accession, while thanking allies for their support.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposes an 'associate EU membership' for Ukraine that would let Kyiv participate in EU decision-making and access EU programs, while creating a 'security guarantee' mechanism under Article 42.7 to request aid from member states in case of renewed Russian aggression; non-voting but with a path toward formal accession, plus a snap-back clause if reforms slip, aimed at breaking the deadlock in Kyiv's bid. The plan seeks momentum without derailing merit-based accession, with Zelenskyy seeking faster full membership and European leaders weighing feasibility; Merz also calls for a task force to work out details.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces calls to resign after Labour’s devastating local election losses, even as he pledges to bring Britain closer to the EU.
Russia denounces Armenia for hosting Zelensky at a European summit and warns that Yerevan’s push toward EU membership could deepen Moscow’s estrangement; Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan says Armenia is not Russia’s Ukraine ally and will skip Moscow’s Victory Day parade, signaling a new tilt toward Brussels while ties with Moscow remain frayed.
Bosnia and Croatia agreed to build the $1.5 billion Southern Interconnection gas pipeline, linking Bosnia to Croatia’s LNG terminal to reduce dependence on Russian gas, with US-backed investors AAFS Infrastructure and Energy; the EU warned the project could jeopardize Bosnia’s EU accession due to transparency concerns, while the plan also includes gas-fired plants to cut coal use.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine might have to cede territory to reach a peace deal with Russia, adding Zelensky would need a referendum majority and to frame concessions as opening the way to Europe. He also stressed Ukraine’s EU accession should have a clear roadmap, but cautioned that joining by 2027–2028 is unlikely. The report notes Russia occupies about 20% of Ukrainian land, Hungary has blocked some EU negotiation clusters, and momentum could return after political shifts in Europe.
At a Cyprus informal EU summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected symbolic pre-accession for Ukraine and pressed for full EU membership with a clear start date, now that Orbán’s absence coincided with Hungary lifting its veto to enable a €90 billion loan to Kyiv; leaders also debated opening accession clusters, the mutual defence clause, energy concerns, and the seven-year budget, but gave no immediate decision on timing for membership.
Ukraine seeks rapid EU membership as a security guarantee, but accession is a lengthy, obstacle-filled process with economic and governance hurdles; negotiators are weighing options such as phased benefits and limiting Kyiv’s veto on key decisions.
EU officials warn that Ukraine’s slower reform pace could endanger about €5 billion in EU funds after 11 reforms were missed in late 2025, with more at risk in early 2026. The slowdown is blamed on parliamentary gridlock, government–parliament communication gaps, and wartime constraints, affecting reforms across energy, local authorities, deregulation, and state aid, including the crucial anti-corruption court. Compounding pressures, Ukraine also stalled IMF conditions linked to an $8.2 billion loan, underscoring the need for clearer EU guidance and better coordination to preserve reform momentum and support for EU membership.
Zelenskyy said a U.S. security guarantees document for Ukraine is 100% ready to sign, with a signing date to be set before it goes to the U.S. Congress and Ukrainian parliament for ratification. The update followed trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi among Ukraine, the United States, and Russia aimed at ending the invasion, and Zelenskyy pressed for Ukraine to join the European Union by 2027 while insisting Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be respected. Negotiators will reconvene in the UAE on Feb. 1 for the next round, though no final framework on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been agreed.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu told a British podcast she would vote for Moldova’s reunification with Romania if the issue were decided by referendum, arguing the small country struggles to survive as a democracy and must resist Russia; she cautioned that public support is not strong, with polls showing about two-thirds opposed to reunification, and she framed EU membership as a more realistic goal, noting Moldova’s 2024 referendum narrowly approved EU accession and her reelection as a pro-European leader.
Bulgaria has officially adopted the euro, with the Bulgarian central bank's governor joining the ECB Governing Council. While the transition is underway, Bulgarians can still use levs until June 30, with public opinion divided on the move. Bulgaria has been an EU member since 2007 and sees benefits from membership.
U.S. officials report that Ukraine and Russia are close to reaching a peace agreement, with Ukraine dropping NATO membership ambitions and Russia open to EU accession, though final territorial and security guarantees are still being negotiated, and key issues remain unresolved.
Ukraine faces significant challenges on multiple fronts, including ongoing battles, energy infrastructure attacks, and political issues affecting its EU accession process, amid complex international relations involving the US, China, and Russia, which complicate prospects for peace and support.