Explaining complex things in simple words: European integration of Ukraine

The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.      

On June 25, the EU began official negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova

For Ukraine, European integration is liberation from Russian influence and a return to Europe, to which we have always belonged historically, politically and culturally.

The recent history of Ukraine began with the Euromaidan, when civil society under the flags of the EU resolutely opposed the dictatorship.

Ukraine holds a historical record for the speed of travel from the submission of an application (28.02.2022) to the start of negotiations on accession to the EU (25.06.2024). During the last 2 years, Ukrainians have demonstrated that nothing is impossible for them.

Ukraine has made impressive progress in reforms in the conditions of defence against full-scale Russian aggression, which is also unprecedented in the history of European integration.

European integration reforms are critically important for the stability of Ukraine in the conditions of total war with Russia. We did not implement them solely for the purpose of EU membership.

Brussels did not make concessions to us. Ukraine has properly and thoroughly completed all the steps identified by the European Commission as necessary for the adoption of these critically important decisions.

Ukraine became the driver of European integration for Moldova, Georgia and the countries of the Western Balkans—the EU expansion to the natural political borders of Europe.

Ukraine brought the EU out of the "expansion coma" and woke up the European "sleeping giant". The consolidation of Europe around helping Ukraine repel Russian aggression has returned the EU to the international arena as a subject, influential and ambitious player.

Ukraine's membership will turn the EU into a global force, a point of attraction and a stimulus for the democratization of Belarus, Asian countries, and possibly the Russian Federation itself. The Russian imperial project will finally collapse, and the EU will become a stabilizing force in an increasingly bipolar world.

As part of the EU, Ukraine will make a significant contribution to advanced industries, such as green energy and digitalization. We have tremendous potential for innovation and are ready to share our achievements with our partners.

European business will benefit from the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine after the devastating Russian aggression.

Ukraine has the largest military experience on the continent, so it will strengthen the security and defence of the EU. We know too well the horrors of war, so we realize the price of peace. Ukrainians will make every effort to make Europe a continent of freedom, unity, cooperation and peace.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security.