President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent a letter to European Union leaders stating that the “time is right” to officially begin Ukraine’s accession process. He firmly rejected a proposal for associate membership, calling it “unfair” because it would leave Ukraine “voiceless” and without voting rights to advance its interests.
Ukraine’s renewed push follows the recent parliamentary ousting of Hungary’s former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Under Orban’s leadership, Hungary regularly used its veto power to block Kyiv’s EU bids and delay aid.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is entering potential future negotiations from a stronger position due to recent military successes:
- Territorial Gains: Ukraine has liberated 590 square kilometers (approx. 230 square miles) of territory since the beginning of the year. Zelenskyy claims these gains, alongside global sanctions, are forcing Russia toward diplomacy.
- Russian Casualties: According to Ukrainian figures, roughly 86,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, 59,000 seriously injured, and 800 captured since January.
On the other hand, Ukraine has escalated its attacks on critical Russian military and economic infrastructure. Notably, Ukrainian forces halted production at the Metafrax Chemical plant in Russia’s Perm region (1,700 km from the border), which supplies materials for drones, aircraft, and missile engines. Kyiv also hit an oil refinery in Yaroslavl and an oil terminal in Novorossiysk.
With the Starobilsk Dormitory Incident, Russia accused Ukraine of a “monstrous” strike on a student dormitory in Russian-controlled Starobilsk, resulting in 12 deaths and 48 casualties. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a severe military response. Kyiv denied targeting the dormitory, stating they comply with international humanitarian law and had strictly targeted an elite drone command unit in the area.
It is considerable to mention that the last member to enter the European Union was Croatia in 2013, since then countries like Turkey, Serbia, and among others have been trying for an opportunity to be integrated within the union. Therefore, the addition of Ukraine would represent a significant change and escalate to an important geopolitical change.
Reference
Staff, A. J. (2026, May 23). Zelenskyy says ‘time is right’ for Ukraine to start process of joining EU. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/23/zelenskyy-says-time-is-right-for-ukraine-to-start-process-of-joining-eu