Ukraine Can Join EU Before 2030: EU Commission President

kiev, ukraine - EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives green light for Ukraine to join the EU before 2030, praising the country's progress on membership process.

EU Commission President's Remarks on Ukraine's EU Membership Process

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Ukraine's progress on the membership path, stating that if the country continues at this pace and quality, it could join the EU before 2030. Ukraine applied for EU membership four days after Russia's attack on February 28, 2022, and received candidate status on June 23, 2022. Despite facing Hungary's veto, the decision to start membership negotiations was made at the EU summit on December 23, 2023. Negotiations officially began on June 25, 2024, making Ukraine the first country to start negotiations just 2.5 years after applying, and the first country in a state of conflict to sit at the negotiation table.