EU’s von der Leyen talks Ukraine’s EU accession path with Zelenskiy, as interim membership proposal stirs debate

BRUSSELS, May 27 (Reuters) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday she had discussed Ukraine's progress toward European Union membership with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as the bloc weighs next steps in an accession process that has gained momentum since Kyiv was granted candidate status in 2022.

“The coming weeks will be important to take decisive steps forward in the accession process,” von der Leyen wrote on social media platform X, without detailing specific measures. The talks come as Ukraine pushes to open formal negotiations on several chapters of EU law, a process that typically takes years but has been accelerated due to geopolitical pressures.

Earlier this month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed allowing Ukraine an “associate” membership in the bloc — a status that would let Kyiv participate in EU meetings and institutions without voting rights. Zelenskiy swiftly dismissed the idea as unfair, insisting that full membership is the only acceptable outcome. The proposal has exposed divisions among EU member states over how quickly to integrate Ukraine, with some eastern and northern members pushing for a faster track, while countries like France and Germany urge caution to avoid overloading the bloc’s institutions.

Zelenskiy, in recent public remarks, said Ukraine has pressed ahead with reforms required for EU accession, including anti-corruption measures and judicial overhauls. He suggested that the electoral defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban — a longtime and vocal opponent of Ukraine’s EU membership — could open a window for substantive progress in negotiations. Orban’s weakened political position has raised expectations in Brussels that a key obstacle to moving forward with Ukraine’s talks may be removed, though Hungary’s formal opposition remains in place for now.

Von der Leyen also reiterated Europe’s continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, noting that air defense and drone-and-counter-drone capabilities are among the bloc’s most urgent defense priorities. “Ukraine will be fully integrated into these efforts,” she said, signaling that Brussels intends to tie Ukraine’s defense needs more closely with broader European security planning. The statement aligns with a recent NATO-EU push to coordinate procurement and training programs to help Kyiv defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.

Analysts say the dual-track approach — advancing membership talks while deepening military cooperation — reflects the EU’s effort to balance solidarity with Ukraine against internal political sensitivities. The next formal update on Ukraine’s accession progress is expected in the European Commission’s annual enlargement report later this year.

(Reporting by Makini Brice; editing by Deepa Babington)