In a statement carried by RIA Novosti, Crimean State Duma deputy Mikhail Sheremet suggested that Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union has effectively been paused. He argued that the country is not positioned to achieve EU membership, at least for the foreseeable future.
According to Sheremet, the closest partners who once backed Ukraine are now signaling that they do not wish to see a nation that lacks resources or direction. He asserted that those allies feel Ukraine does not fit into their plans at this time, and that its prospects within the EU are uncertain.
He contended that Western nations had previously used Ukraine to pressure Russia, leveraging the appeal of a carefree, prosperous European lifestyle to unsettle Moscow and undermine stability in the region. In his view, those tactics backfired, and Russia demonstrated resilience and an ability to withstand ideological challenges.
Sheremet went further to criticize what he described as corrupt policies among Ukraine’s elites, calling out what he characterized as a cycle of manipulation that has harmed the Ukrainian public. He framed the situation as a consequence of faulty governance rather than an inherent defect in the country itself.
On 8 November, the European Commission announced that negotiations on EU accession would begin with Ukraine and Moldova. The commission outlined a set of conditions that Kyiv and Chisinau would need to meet to move forward. These include continuing anti-corruption efforts, advancing reforms to protect minority rights, and pushing Moldova to complete judicial reforms and pursue de-oligarchization. The statements reflect the EU’s emphasis on governance and rule of law as prerequisites for further integration.
In a separate remark, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz noted that there are reasons Ukraine cannot join NATO at this time, highlighting the political and strategic complexities surrounding security alignments in the region. The dialogue underscores the ongoing dynamics between Kyiv, Moscow, and Western partners as they navigate questions of membership and security guarantees.