Zelensky Claims Ukraine Deserves Fast E.U. Membership Over Others
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded fast-track EU membership during a Brussels address, arguing Ukraine has earned it through its wartime sacrifices against Russia.
According to Breitbart News, Zelensky used his appearance at the European Council meeting to press the case for accelerated EU accession, arguing that Ukraine’s sacrifices in its ongoing conflict with Russia warrant special treatment from the bloc.
The Ukrainian leader told assembled EU officials that his nation deserves full membership status due to the heavy price it has paid for independence and freedom. He framed Ukraine’s struggle as defending not only its own sovereignty but also the broader European project against Russian influence.
Zelensky contended that granting Ukraine swift EU membership would remove one of Russia’s primary motivations for destabilizing both Ukraine and the wider European continent. He characterized the fast-track path as essential rather than optional, positioning it as a strategic necessity for European security.
Ukraine formally submitted its EU membership application just days before the February 2022 Russian invasion. The country has pursued closer integration with Brussels for years, though the application process typically spans decades and requires extensive institutional and legal reforms.
In recent weeks, the European Union agreed to open membership negotiations with both Ukraine and Moldova, marking a significant procedural step. However, Ukraine’s talks are proceeding under the unprecedented circumstance of active warfare on its territory.
Following his Brussels meeting, Breitbart News reports that Zelensky shared a WhatsApp voice message with journalists in which he claimed EU leaders acknowledged Ukraine’s armed forces as the strongest in Europe. He went further to assert that Ukraine now fields NATO’s second-most-powerful military force, trailing only the United States.
The Ukrainian president has consistently rejected any compromise short of full EU membership. Last month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly floated an alternative proposal to Brussels that would grant Ukraine an unprecedented “Associate Member” status within the bloc. This arrangement would have provided Ukraine access to certain EU programs and participation rights while withholding voting authority in the bloc’s decision-making institutions.
Zelensky swiftly dismissed the German proposal. His Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration followed suit days later, insisting that no alternative exists to full fast-track membership for Ukraine.
Despite Kiev’s urgency, Ukraine has faced persistent criticism regarding corruption and governance failures that conflict with EU foundational principles. These ongoing concerns present substantial obstacles to membership, as Brussels requires candidate nations to meet strict standards on rule of law, democratic governance, and institutional integrity before accession.
The Ukrainian leader previously argued in April that the European Union must expand its membership roster as widely as possible to counter Russian influence. During the same remarks, Zelensky suggested that the United Kingdom should reverse its 2016 Brexit decision and rejoin the bloc.
With information from Breitbart News
