Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, has expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union by 2027. His comments came after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, where he emphasized the need for a realistic assessment of both Ukraine’s readiness and the EU’s capacity to integrate a new member.
Sikorski highlighted the significant challenges that Ukraine would face in the integration process, noting that the country is large but not particularly affluent. He remarked, “I always value creative thinking. However, the actual accession of Ukraine will be a major challenge for both Ukraine and the European Union, as it is a large country but not very wealthy. At the same time, we must remember that Ukraine has not fully implemented the Association Agreement yet. Creative thinking is one thing, but political decisions are another.”
The discussion around Ukraine’s potential EU membership has gained traction, particularly in light of proposals to include a 2027 accession date in a future peace agreement. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been a proponent of the so-called “reverse membership” concept, which suggests that Ukraine could first become a full EU member before gradually adopting specific cooperation programs, such as those related to cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy.
Sikorski pointed out that this approach presents serious procedural challenges. The timeline for Ukraine’s accession has been a topic of intense debate, especially following the country’s application for EU membership in February 2022, shortly after the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
To date, the EU has taken several steps regarding Ukraine’s membership aspirations:
- In June 2024, the European Union officially began accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
- By December 2025, substantive negotiations were initiated, bypassing Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, covering three of the six negotiation clusters: “Fundamentals,” “Internal Market,” and “External Relations.”
- On February 23, the EU provided Ukraine with a document outlining necessary reforms for membership, which will serve as the basis for assessing Ukraine’s readiness.
- Previously, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the EU in an interview with the Financial Times to officially set 2027 as the target date for Ukraine’s accession.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has raised doubts about Ukraine's planned EU accession by 2027, emphasizing the need for a realistic evaluation of both Ukraine's readiness and the EU's capacity. His remarks highlight the complexities involved in integrating Ukraine into the EU framework, especially given the country's ongoing reforms and economic challenges.