Zelenskyy. Stock Photo: Getty Images
FT: Slowing reforms and differing views on accession pace have heightened Ukraine-EU tensions
The Financial Times reports that persistent efforts by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to secure Ukraine's rapid accession to the European Union have heightened tensions with European capitals.
Ukrainska Pravda
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The Financial Times reports that persistent efforts by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to secure Ukraine's rapid accession to the European Union have heightened tensions with European capitals.
Source: European Pravda, citing the Financial Times
Details: The refusal of EU leaders to accelerate Ukraine's accession process has caused frustration in Kyiv, while increasingly eurosceptic rhetoric from Zelenskyy's administration is undermining efforts to find a compromise.
In recent weeks, France and Germany have proposed a phased approach under which Ukraine would receive symbolic benefits and gradual access to EU mechanisms in exchange for implementing reform milestones. Officials say this would mean at least 10 years before full membership.
Responding to the Franco-German proposal in Kyiv last week, Zelenskyy urged the EU to be fair and said Ukraine does not need symbolic membership.
Two senior Ukrainian officials told the FT that Zelenskyy has instructed his diplomats not to consider or even enter into discussions with EU governments on such proposals and to speak only about full EU membership. "We won't even discuss it," one of the Ukrainian officials said.
During an informal summit in Cyprus in April, several EU leaders sought to temper the Ukrainian president's expectations, according to two people familiar with the talks. "He had to hear some harsh truths. It won't be as easy as he thinks," one unnamed official said.
Nevertheless, Zelenskyy remains determined to maintain his maximalist position, Ukrainian officials say. One added that Kyiv believes the EU will become more realistic over time and move closer to Ukraine's stance.
Several EU diplomats said they understand the pressure Zelenskyy is under after four years of full-scale war and his frustration, but stressed that enlargement must remain merit-based. They also noted that with direct military and financial support from the United States decreasing and Ukraine feeling sidelined in the peace process, the EU is now its most important partner.
"We are the only friends he has, so he might be better off keeping his mouth shut," said the unnamed official.
EU diplomats and officials also said Ukraine's reform efforts have slowed, particularly in the crucial areas of rule of law and anti-corruption. They pointed to missed deadlines for legislation that would allow Kyiv broader access to EU energy and industrial markets.
Kyiv has also resisted Brussels' request to raise business taxes as a condition for part of a €90 billion loan, arguing this would burden the economy.
"Their internal reform push has stalled. It is not good, and everyone knows it," another source told the FT.
Background: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week that fast-track membership for Ukraine was not feasible. Meanwhile, he proposed that Kyiv be allowed to participate in European Council meetings without voting rights and to take part in certain European Parliament formats.
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