As EU leaders gathered to discuss the bloc’s future, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a blunt message: Europe’s direction is being forged on the battlefield in Ukraine, and the strongest safeguard for the continent would be a fast-track path for Kyiv into the European Union.
In remarks shared in a video posted on X, Mr Zelensky told the summit that the EU should remain a home for every democratic nation on the continent, arguing that “Ukraine merits this because it has paid more than any other country for its right to be free, independent and… European”.
His appeal comes as European Union ambassadors agreed last week to move membership talks forward with Ukraine and ex-Soviet Moldova, launching discussions on the first of six “clusters” designed to align national legislation and standards with those of the bloc.
“The future of Europe – free, united and of course in peace – is being decided in our defence. That shows how unique our situation is,” Mr Zelensky said.
He also conceded that a rapid accession track would not win unanimous backing across the union.
“The most important such step – I know that not everyone loves this – could be a fast-track path for Ukraine to join the EU.”
Volodymyr Zelensky told the EU summit that every democratic nation in Europe deserved to be in the EU (file pic)
Beyond membership, Mr Zelensky pressed the case that Europe’s security hinges on reliable financing for Ukraine’s armed forces, saying the EU — alongside the “coalition of willing” countries backing Kyiv — could build the financial instruments needed to guarantee that support.
A statement issued by the European Council after the summit welcomed the start of accession talks for Ukraine and said it “looks forward to the opening of the other clusters, in line with the merit-based approach”.
In an audio message released at the close of the summit and following an earlier meeting of the “Ramstein” group on military assistance for Ukraine, Mr Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine was ready to enter talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the war now in its more than four-year-old stage.
At the same time, he warned European partners against easing off and called for sustained pressure on Moscow.
“Europe has to be engaged for us to have a strong position, to commit fully on sanctions without loopholes, on confiscation without exceptions and on funding Ukraine,” he said.
