Ukraine eyes EU accession in coming years, with EU decision-making still pivotal

Ukraine is positioned to meet the conditions for joining the European Union within the coming years, a view echoed by Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, in an interview with the French publication Le Point. She suggested that Ukraine could complete its accession obligations in a relatively short timeframe, pointing to the decade-long implementation period of the EU’s Association Agreement as a reference point and emphasizing that the ultimate decision lies beyond Kyiv’s control. The deputy prime minister underscored the distinction between the process and Kyiv’s role, noting that while reform steps can progress domestically, the formal acceptance decision rests with EU institutions and member states. This framing aligns with earlier comments from Brussels officials about a long road ahead for enlargement, rather than an imminent breakthrough for Ukraine. At the end of last year, Vera Jourova, Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, indicated that Ukraine’s EU entry would take years, reinforcing the sense that a swift accession is unlikely. In addition, Austrian Minister of EU and Constitutional Affairs Caroline Edtstadler expressed skepticism about Ukraine and Moldova joining the bloc in the near term, reflecting lingering political and institutional considerations across the Union. Earlier statements from the European Commission had signaled that Kyiv’s legislation would need to be verified and aligned with EU rules as a prerequisite to starting accession negotiations. Taken together, these comments illustrate a cautious but ongoing trajectory toward closer EU alignment for Ukraine, with the pace dependent on both domestic reforms and collective EU deliberations across member states.