According to many well-informed sources, among the options for Ukraine's EU membership, Kiev is given some protection mechanisms associated with the EU accession process from the beginning, while allowing Kiev to immediately access some EU member rights.
At the same time, the EU will set out a clear roadmap for the steps that Ukraine needs to take to promote formal accession procedures.
Other options being put on the negotiating table include continuing the current accession path, or establishing a transitional period with a step-by-step membership mechanism.
The 20-point draft peace plan that Ukraine is building with the US expects Ukraine to join the EU in 2027, in which Kiev will enjoy part of the benefits of membership in the transitional period.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's goal is to join the EU by this time. He also considers this an important security guarantee.
A spokesman for the European Commission, the EU's executive body, said that Ukraine's future accession to the EU is the content of discussions on a peace agreement.
According to the spokesman, the EU is strengthening links with candidate countries before officially joining the bloc. In the case of Ukraine, the EU has taken advantage of existing cooperation mechanisms within the framework of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.
Ukraine was granted the status of EU candidate country in 2022 after the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out and was approved to begin EU accession negotiations at the end of 2023. Official negotiations started in 2024, but the process is currently stalled due to Hungary blocking the opening of negotiation chapters.
The process of joining the EU usually takes many years and every step needs the consensus of all member states.
