European diplomat: Ukraine's EU membership unlikely by end of 2020s

Scepticism over Ukraine's accession timeline

Among European diplomats, the view persists that Ukraine will not join the European Union before the end of the current decade. This was stated by one EU representative in an interview with the publication Rapporteur (formerly Euractiv).

“Ніхто із серйозних людей не вірить, що Україна стане членом ЄС до кінця десятиліття, якщо взагалі коли-небудь стане. І ми повинні перестати давати Києву хибні надії” (No serious person believes that Ukraine will become an EU member by the end of the decade, if it ever does. And we must stop giving Kyiv false hopes), the publication's interlocutor emphasised.

Alternative avenues of support

According to the diplomat, Ukraine can be supported through other instruments, including via the NATO structure and the provision of military aid. He called for not creating inflated expectations for Kyiv regarding future membership in the bloc.

Possible separation of processes for Ukraine and Moldova

Meanwhile, the EU allows for the possibility that accession negotiations for Moldova and Ukraine may proceed along separate paths. According to sources, attitudes within the bloc regarding Ukraine's prospects are gradually changing.

The publication's interlocutors believe that separating Moldova's negotiation process from Ukraine's is no longer a question of “if”, but of “when”. One diplomat noted that it would be unfair to delay Moldova's accession if Ukraine, for one reason or another, fails to make progress in its negotiations with the EU.