Von der Leyen demands EU to speed up Ukrainian admission

(MENAFN) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on the EU to speed up Ukraine’s accession process, aiming to start membership talks in 2025. She argued that this move would strengthen Ukraine’s position in negotiations with Russia and attract more investments into the country’s defense sector. Ukraine has long expressed its desire to join the EU, but several member states have consistently opposed its “immediate” membership. Hungary has raised concerns about corruption, the treatment of ethnic minorities, and economic competition, particularly in agriculture. Other countries, such as Slovakia, France, and Germany, have also voiced reservations, insisting that Ukraine must first meet certain reform benchmarks.

Speaking at an event on May 7, von der Leyen emphasized three key priorities: bolstering Ukraine's defense, phasing out Russian fossil fuels, and accelerating Ukraine’s EU accession. She mentioned that Brussels is working closely with Ukraine to open the first cluster of accession talks in 2025 and hopes to initiate all clusters by then.

While Russia has opposed Ukraine’s NATO membership, it has been more neutral on EU accession, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that Ukraine has the sovereign right to join the EU, as long as it remains focused on economic integration and not military alignment. However, Russian officials have increasingly criticized the EU for losing its civilian nature, accusing it of prolonging the war by supporting Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also previously noted the EU’s rapid militarization and warned of the diminishing distinction between the EU and NATO.

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