As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues into its second decade, Ukraine has participated in discussions with the E.U. about pursuing membership. On June 21st, 2024, the European Union opened membership talks with Ukraine giving the country a significant political boost. 

During an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the start of the talks marked a historic moment and a significant step forward for both Kyiv and the E.U. towards achieving “our shared great victory.” Later, the neighboring country of Moldova also launched its membership talks with the E.U. and the E.U. said that both countries are moving away from Russian influence and towards greater integration with the West.

During the meeting in Luxembourg, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said “The future for Ukraine is for the Ukrainians to decide, Belgium is a part of the E.U.’s rotating presidency. The E.U. will continue to support the right of the Ukrainian people to choose their own destiny.”

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also said “We fully understand that there is still much work ahead of us on the path to accession. We are ready for it. We have demonstrated that we can move swiftly and achieve the impossible.”

Gaining E.U. membership is always a long process. Candidate countries need approval from all 27 E.U. member states at each phase of membership negotiations. Since the E.U. initiated talk with Ukraine it seemed like all member states were on board. Also, many E.U. countries have supported Ukraine by giving them arms and other resources. Hungary, however, has kept close ties with Russia and has never supported Ukraine. 

Moreover, being amidst a war creates many new challenges potentially slowing down the process and making it more difficult. Ukraine’s geography presents additional challenges. For example, some of Ukraine’s territories are currently occupied by Russian forces, raising questions about how a country can join the E.U. when a non-E.U. country has soldiers stationed within its borders.

Initiating discussions about joining the E.U. is a commendable effort as it boosts Ukraine’s confidence in ally support and enhances its political standing. However, numerous challenges accompany the accession process, especially given Ukraine’s current state of war. The future of the conflict remains uncertain; hopefully, E.U. membership will materialize and provide valuable assistance to Ukraine during this challenging time.