Russia’s war won’t stop Brussels and Kyiv starting talks on Ukraine joining the EU, diplomats say.

The European Union is gearing up to open negotiations with Ukraine on its future accession to the bloc with a formal announcement expected as soon as December.

According to three diplomats with knowledge of the plans, leaders are preparing to give Kyiv the green light to begin formal talks on joining the 27-country bloc before the end of the year.

Ukraine is at the heart of a major new push to expand the EU to as many as 35 countries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her annual address to Parliament last month that Ukraine’s future was “in the Union.”

EU countries granted Kyiv status as a candidate for EU membership in June, and the Commission is due to issue a “progress report” on how well Ukraine and other aspiring members are meeting the bloc’s conditions for joining in November, according to an EU official who spoke to journalists on Tuesday.

  • @[email protected]English
    6•1 year ago

    If the EU admits Ukraine and doesn’t mobilize against Russia beyond existing aid packages it makes the defensive pact useless. It doesn’t matter that it may be justifiable to not send troops, according to the law, international relations are about actions.

    • @[email protected]English
      1•1 year ago

      Presumably everyone would organise behind the scenes to make the right public diplomatic moves to not damage the article. It wouldn’t be easy, it won’t be ideal, but it’s a way that can be walked is all I’m saying. Also depends on war progress of course Russia besieging Lviv and Ukraine on the verge of kicking Russians out are two vastly different scenarios because what Ukraine would need is vastly different.