Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that specific security guarantees are essential for determining a concrete timeline for the end of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking at a joint press conference in Vilnius alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union plays a crucial role in these guarantees.
Zelensky outlined that the agreements with the EU rank second in importance after bilateral security assurances that Ukraine seeks from the United States. He referred to these arrangements as part of an economic security framework aimed at stabilizing Ukraine’s future. “We are aiming for 2027 as a specific date when Ukraine will be prepared. Technically, we expect to be ready by the first half of 2026 to open all clusters,” he explained.
Furthermore, Zelensky stressed that EU accession should be integrated into any peace agreements. He remarked, “We want a specific date in our peace treaty to ensure that all parties adhere to these agreements, including the aggressor, who will sign under a 20-point plan when the time comes. This way, we will not be blocked again.”
President Nausėda reiterated Lithuania’s support for Ukraine’s EU membership by 2030. Meanwhile, President Nawrocki did not provide specific timelines but affirmed that Ukraine is on a path toward Western civilization, distancing itself from Eastern influences.
On January 6, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked that EU membership is a key security guarantee for Ukraine. Reports indicate that this membership was previously included in a 20-point peace plan discussed among the United States, Ukraine, and the European Union.
Unnamed EU Commission representatives informed the Financial Times that Ukraine’s accession to the bloc could influence President Zelensky’s willingness to consider territorial concessions to Russia. They suggested that Zelensky might frame EU membership as a significant achievement for the Ukrainian people.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has linked EU membership to the timeline for ending the war, emphasizing the need for specific security guarantees. He aims for Ukraine to be ready for EU accession by 2027, which he believes should be part of any peace agreement.