EU Enlargement Commissioner: Ukraine Cannot Join the EU Before 2027
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Costa stated that Ukraine cannot join the EU before 2027. The European Commission has repeatedly emphasized previously that, even if Kyiv expresses such aspirations, it is impossible to pre-determine a specific accession date for Ukraine.
Previously, the Financial Times reported that a draft peace plan suggested Ukraine might join the EU on January 1, 2027—a move that would fundamentally alter the EU’s approach to admitting new members.
The report noted that the latest version of the peace proposal submitted by Ukraine and European officials to the U.S. explicitly states that Ukraine will join the EU on January 1, 2027. This plan is an updated version of a previous ceasefire proposal from the Trump administration, which Kyiv and its European allies had criticized as favoring Russia.
This arrangement comes amid mounting pressure from Trump on Zelenskyy to reach a peace agreement before Christmas. Supporters of Ukraine’s EU membership argue that the European Commission has now recognized that disrupting the peace process or opposing Kyiv’s accelerated accession would be counterproductive.
Ukraine has not yet completed any of the 36 negotiation chapters required for EU accession. Such a timeline would completely overturn the EU’s performance-based enlargement criteria, forcing Brussels to reevaluate the entire enlargement process—including the duration of access to EU funds, voting rights distribution, and other related issues.
If the U.S. endorses this plan, Trump may pressure Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán—who has consistently blocked Ukraine’s accession—to drop his veto. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s prospects for EU membership largely depend on Europe and the United States, and that as a party to the agreement, the U.S. will ensure Ukraine’s European path is not obstructed by certain countries.
According to official EU statements, new member states could be subject to a multi-year “observation period,” during which they could be expelled from the EU if democratic standards deteriorate—offering reassurance to those concerned about the impact of enlargement.
Trump said U.S. representatives will meet with European and Ukrainian officials over the weekend to coordinate on disputes regarding the peace plan, comparing the effort to a particularly complex real estate transaction.
Russian President's Foreign Advisor Ushakov stated that Moscow has not yet seen the latest U.S. proposal containing the Ukraine-Europe recommendations, but expects the content to be unacceptable. He also rejected the idea of turning the Donbas frontline into a "free economic zone," emphasizing that Russia controls about two-thirds of the Donbas region and has no intention of relinquishing territorial claims.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860627073008640/
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