EU members not yet ready to name date for Ukraine’s accession – Kallas

The head of the European Union’s foreign policy department, Kaia Kallas, stated that member states are not ready to determine a specific date for Ukraine’s accession to the union. According to her, EU states do not support establishing a fixed year of accession, despite Kyiv’s calls for this.

This is reported by Reuters .

Kallas noted that member states are not willing to agree on a specific year for Ukraine’s accession to the EU, despite President Volodymyr Zelensky’s demands. She stressed that a significant amount of work remains ahead in the negotiation process.

The official made the statement during a speech at the Munich Security Conference, where the prospects for European Union enlargement and the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed.

According to diplomats, the possibility of Ukraine joining in 2027 was discussed as part of a 20-point peace plan that the US, Ukraine and the EU considered as a tool for economic recovery after the war. At the same time, a number of EU member states consider setting a specific date unrealistic and insist that the accession process is based on the principle of achievements and depends on the adaptation of the country’s legislation to EU standards.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkėvičs supported Kallas’ position and stated that there was no willingness among the leaders of the states to agree on a specific date for Ukraine’s membership.

“The European Union can find an acceptable formula if necessary, but it is necessary to take into account the interests of the Western Balkan countries and Moldova, which have been aspiring to membership for a long time,” Rinkėvics said.

He also emphasized the interrelationship between the issue of EU enlargement and the prospects for a peace agreement, noting that without progress from Russia, reaching an agreement seems unlikely.

Ukraine applied for EU membership after Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Kyiv has been pushing for accelerated negotiations, despite the war and Hungary’s stance blocking the start of detailed membership talks.

By the way, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that the country supports Ukraine’s accession to the European Union . At the same time, Rome considers the accession of the Balkan countries to the EU a priority.

Recall that the European Union is considering several options for Ukraine’s integration into the bloc , which could become part of a future peace agreement.

It is worth adding that the European Commission is developing a simplified plan for Ukraine’s accession to the EU, which envisages a two-tier membership model. This decision could accelerate Kyiv’s accession, but at the same time has raised concerns in European capitals about the consequences for the Union.

Earlier, EU Commissioner Marta Kos and Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka presented a joint action plan between Ukraine and the EU, which contains 10 key reforms.

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