Berlin signals openness to negotiating concrete EU accession date for Ukraine
Germany responded to Zelenskyy’s statement on a specific date for EU accession (Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman)
Germany considers it realistic to set a specific date for
Ukraine’s accession to the European Union — a demand President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy has been pressing — Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at a
briefing before a meeting of NATO defense ministers, European
Pravda reported on Feb. 12.
“A specific date is always possible,” he said.
At the same time, the German minister stressed that
determining such a date would require separate work.
“What should it be? That needs to be negotiated. It’s not
something that can be decided in the heat of the moment,” Pistorius said.
European Pravda noted that this was the first statement by
the German government signaling that it considers the demand voiced by Ukraine
to be acceptable.
On Feb. 11, Zelenskyy said he is being very cautious about
media reports regarding European Union plans for Ukraine’s partial accession by
2027 and wants to hear a “specific date.”
On Feb. 9, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that the
European Union is preparing a range of options to incorporate Ukraine’s
membership into a future peace agreement. In particular, it could be gradual and
provide Kyiv with interim protections.
On Feb. 10, Politico reported that the EU is developing an
unprecedented plan that could grant Ukraine partial membership in the bloc as
early as 2027, as Brussels seeks to strengthen the country’s position in Europe
and distance it from Moscow.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
