Zelenskyy posted today: "Ukraine must do everything possible to be technically prepared to join the EU in 2027. At least we will have completed the main steps."

I need specific dates. If the agreement signed by the US, Russia (especially Putin), myself (as the President of Ukraine) and Europe does not specify clear dates, Russia will go to any lengths to block this process. Moreover, Russia will not act directly, but rather through certain European representatives to achieve its goals.

We have seen similar situations before: if the issues related to accession are not initiated for negotiations, the candidate status may be jeopardized. We face a series of challenges and have gone through a struggle. However, we eventually obtained the candidate status for accession. But now, these accession negotiation issues are more complex.

For us, joining the EU means specific details, because it relates to Ukraine's security guarantees. These are specific details with specific dates. Today, I signed the 20:00 plan - the plan to end the war - to assure the Ukrainian people that the date of our EU membership is determined."

Comment: Zelenskyy's statement essentially transforms Ukraine's EU accession from a political vision into a security necessity. He is focusing on a clear timetable, which is both a push for the EU to make binding commitments and a public acknowledgment of the reality that Russia will use internal European forces to delay the process. He clearly realizes that the accession negotiations are far more difficult than obtaining the candidate status. At the same time, he ties the ceasefire plan to the EU membership date, conveying confidence to the domestic population and also striving for the most practical guarantees for post-war security and national future.

However, the realistic possibility of Ukraine fully joining the EU in 2027 is extremely low. The EU standards are strict, there are internal voices of opposition, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has not ended, and Ukraine's domestic reforms have not been completed. All these factors determine that it is impossible to formally join the EU in such a short period of time. Ukraine's real accession is more likely to happen after 2030, and it mainly depends on the outcome of the war and the pace of Ukraine's own reforms.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856910667614218/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.