In an important announcement, the President of the European Council stated that the European Union has unanimously agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky considered this decision a “victory” that could be a blow to Russia, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches its second year.
Key Information
EU leaders agreed in a meeting in Brussels to open talks for Ukraine’s accession – as well as that of neighboring Moldova – to the 27-nation bloc, despite years of opposition from Hungary. Zelensky, who has long supported EU membership, praised the decision in a post on X, stating: “History is made by those who do not tire of the struggle for freedom.”
Progress Made and Future Challenges
Ukraine applied for EU membership in February 2022, just four days after Russia invaded the country, a continuous assault that has reportedly killed or injured around 315,000 Russian soldiers, according to a U.S. intelligence report released this week, while Ukrainian forces are estimated to have suffered 70,000 deaths and up to 120,000 injuries, according to a New York Times report in August.
If Ukraine is accepted into the EU, it will be eligible for grants from the Union, as well as funding from the EU’s common budget and the ability to transition to the euro as its currency, although Ukrainian officials have warned that its acceptance could provoke a reciprocal response from Russia.
Analysts have also noted that supporting Ukraine’s accession to the EU would represent a blow to Russia. Daniel Gros, an analyst at the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, stated in an interview with CNBC last year that this support would represent a “moral boost for Ukraine and a signal to Russia that the EU will not back down.”
Future Challenges and Russian Responses
In addition to joining the EU, Zelensky is also seeking Ukraine’s accession to NATO, which includes the United States and Canada and serves as a military alliance. Zelensky has increased his calls for joining the organization last summer, four months after Russia invaded Ukraine, asking NATO members at the 2022 summit whether the Eastern European nation “had not paid enough” for joining the alliance, even after NATO members agreed to allow Finland and Sweden to join. However, Ukraine’s accession to NATO is not straightforward. According to reports released this summer, NATO may only allow Ukraine to join under certain conditions (those reports did not specify what those conditions are). One barrier hindering Ukraine’s accession is Article 5 of NATO, which states that any “armed attack” against a member state “shall be considered an attack against all member states,” meaning that member states would need to defend Ukraine against Russia if Ukraine is accepted while the war with Russia is ongoing.
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has consistently rejected Ukraine’s calls to join the EU or NATO, stated at a press conference last week that there will be no peace in Ukraine until Russia achieves its goals in the country. Putin reiterated his points regarding the need to “recruit” Ukraine and eliminate Nazis in the country, despite these claims being thoroughly debunked.
Future Reading
The European Union’s decision to open membership talks with Ukraine is a significant step in international relations and could have a substantial impact on the relationship between Ukraine and Russia. However, it is crucial to monitor future developments and Russian reactions, as this move may escalate tensions between the two countries.
Ultimately, the focus should be on finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine and achieving stability in the region, through dialogue and negotiation among the concerned parties. Joining the European Union and NATO may be steps in the right direction towards achieving this goal, but this must be done cautiously and based on appropriate conditions to ensure stability and security in the region.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/12/14/eu-agrees-to-open-ukraine-membership-talks/
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