During a press conference in Kyiv, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, stated that it is currently impossible to set a specific date for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. However, she affirmed that the country is making significant progress on its path toward membership.
Von der Leyen highlighted Ukraine’s remarkable achievements in implementing necessary reforms despite the ongoing conflict. She noted, “I must say that Ukraine is showing outstanding success in the speed of carrying out essential reforms. These are tough reforms, and it is not easy to convince many people to support them and modernize the country. It is very impressive to see the enormous progress Ukraine is making, despite fighting for its survival.”
She emphasized that the EU will continue to encourage Ukraine to expedite its reforms on the road to membership. However, she reiterated that establishing a timeline for this process is not feasible.
When asked by reporters if Ukraine could join the EU by 2027, von der Leyen responded, “I fully understand that a clear date is important for you. The date you have set serves as a benchmark you wish to adhere to. You know that from our side, setting dates is impossible. But, of course, our support in achieving your goal is absolutely clear.”
Background:
- On February 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the European Union to promptly announce a date for Ukraine’s EU membership to prevent Russia from blocking it for the next 50 years.
- In December 2025, Ukraine and the EU initiated substantial negotiations regarding accession, bypassing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
- Ukraine has since received critical documents from the EU, which will be used to assess whether Kyiv has met the membership requirements.
For more on the proposed rapid expansion of the EU, see the article “What Lies Behind Talks of 2027 and Ukraine’s ‘Partial’ Membership.”
Ursula von der Leyen addressed Ukraine's EU membership aspirations in Kyiv, noting significant reform progress while stating that a specific accession date cannot be established. The EU's support for Ukraine's reforms remains strong as the country navigates its path toward membership.