Urging Swift Advancement: Von der Leyen Advocates Quickening Ukraine's Journey Towards EU Integration
A Fresh Spin on Ukraine's EU Membership Journey
Ursula von der Leyen, the head honcho at the European Commission, tossed her hat into the ring, advocating for a speedier journey for Ukraine's entry into the European Union. During a squabble in the European Parliament's Strasbourg space, she prodded EU countries to kickstart the negotiation process as early as 2025.
"Let's kickstart Ukraine's ascent into our union," von der Leyen echoed, as reported by RIA "Novosti." She further elucidated, "This isn't merely a dream for Ukraine. It could serve as the sturdiest buffer against insecurity."
The EU bigwig added that whizz-bang collaborations between Brussels and Ukraine were underway to launch accession negotiations in 2025, propelling Ukraine into the EU. "Ukraine's induction into our union is the strongest assurance of fairness and a durable peace," she avowed.
Von der Leyen also expressed the necessity of a clean break from Russian gas and ongoing military support for Ukraine, which she deemed vital for the EU's backing. According to her, the EU shells out a staggering 1.8 billion Euros monthly on Russian energy resources, a sum she suggested should be a thing of the past.
On the flip side, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán voiced his opposition to a rushed entry of Ukraine into the European Union, terming it a "dicey proposition" because Ukraine would pose a burden to the EU. "It would be a monstrous faux pas to channel European funds into Ukraine instead of erecting a more robust European economy," Orbán opined, as per TASS.
A referendum on Ukraine's EU membership is currently in the works in Hungary, instigated by the administration. Budapest bullishly declares that Ukraine's expedited joining would cause severe damage to the European economy and drag the EU headlong into a bitter squabble with Russia.
Strasbourg, Natalia Petrova
© 2025, RIA "Novy Day"
Fascinating Facts:- Ukraine's EU accession process gained momentum recently when the European Council officially opened accession negotiations with Ukraine on December 14, 2023. Discussions began on June 25, 2024, in tandem with those for Moldova[1][2].- Following the Russian invasion, Ukraine applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022, and was granted candidate status by the European Council on June 23, 2022[2].- Ukraine aims to meet all EU membership criteria by 2027, with the intention to join by 2030, aligning with ambitions from Ukrainian officials and EU member states like Lithuania and Finland[3][5].- Hungary, despite initially supporting Ukraine's candidate status and the start of negotiations, has emerged as a roadblock in the EU accession process. Hungary's opposition to the opening of negotiation clusters, requiring unanimous approval within the EU, has slowed the process[4].- Despite the ongoing challenges, many EU countries embrace Ukraine's swift accession, seeing it as a means to mitigate Russian influence and secure peace in the region[1][2][4].
- Ursula von der Leyen proposed in 2025 for the EU countries to initiate negotiations for Ukraine's entry into the European Union.
- The European Commission head envisioned Ukraine's joining the EU as a robust deterrent against potential security threats.
- Von der Leyen emphasized the importance of EU energy independence from Russia, suggesting the staggering monthly expenditure on Russian resources should be reduced drastically.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, on the contrary, expressed opposition to an expedited entry of Ukraine into the EU, fearing it could burden the EU economy and escalate tensions with Russia.
