President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's insistence on Ukraine's immediate accession to the European Union has led to increased tensions in relations with European leaders, the Financial Times reports.
Brussels' refusal to speed up the process has caused deep disappointment in Kyiv, while European capitals are increasingly critical of the Ukrainian administration's rhetoric.
According to the publication, France and Germany are offering Ukraine a phased integration plan. It provides for "symbolic" benefits and gradual access to internal EU mechanisms in exchange for real reforms. However, this path means that full membership is at least a decade away. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected these proposals, calling on the EU to "be fair" and saying that Ukraine does not need symbolic membership.
The publication's sources claim that the President has instructed diplomats not to even enter into discussions about alternative formats of integration. "We will not even discuss this," the FT quotes one of the Ukrainian officials. At the same time, during the April summit in Cyprus, European leaders tried to "temper Zelenskyy's expectations." "He had to hear some bitter truths. It will not be as easy as he thinks," the insider notes.
The EU emphasizes that despite the war, the enlargement process should be based solely on merit and the pace of reforms. Against the background of decreasing direct support from the United States, European diplomats are calling on Kyiv to be more restrained in its statements.
"We are the only friends he has, so it's probably better for him to keep his mouth shut," one unnamed EU official commented frankly on the situation.
In addition to political disagreements, Brussels notes Ukraine's "weakening reformist fervor," especially in the areas of the rule of law and anti-corruption. There have also been disputes over the EU's demand to raise taxes for businesses as a condition for financial assistance, which Kyiv is currently resisting.
"Their internal reforms have stalled. This is bad, and everyone knows it," summed up one of the publication's interlocutors.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Merz proposed involving Ukraine in EU institutions without the right to vote.
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