A new draft peace initiative, which Ukrainian and European officials have submitted to Washington, proposes that Ukraine become a member of the European Union by January 1, 2027. This is reported by the Financial Times.
The document is an updated version of steps previously proposed by the Donald Trump administration to end the war. The latter option emerged amid Trump’s increasing pressure on President Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a peace agreement.
“Accession (of Ukraine) to the EU by January 1, 2027, is stated in the latest draft peace proposal that Ukrainian and European officials presented to Washington, people familiar with the contents of the document told the Financial Times“ – the publication writes, without specifying which of the European partners supports such a rapid timing of Ukraine’s accession.
According to officials who support Ukraine’s European integration aspirations, the European Commission now understands that it should not block the peace process because of objections to accelerated membership. At the same time, Ukraine has not yet completed even one of the 36 chapters of negotiations with the EU, and the proposed timetable contradicts the traditional practice of the European Union regarding the “merit-based” approach to accepting new members.
Sources familiar with the peace plan add that the document could force Brussels to reconsider the entire enlargement process, including the issues of Ukraine’s access to EU funds and voting rights.
US support for the plan, the interlocutors note, will allow Donald Trump to influence Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has so far blocked Ukraine’s accession, to abandon his veto.
