Ukraine’s to be or not to be

The immediate reason for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine came from the events that followed the suspension of the process for signing the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the European Union. After that decision had been announced, large-scale pro-EU demonstrations commonly referred to as Euromaidan broke out in Ukraine, which ultimately led to a change of government and to military engagement of Russia. Ukraine’s accession to the European Union is of fundamental importance to the citizens of the country today, decisive to their future political affiliation. They will either be citizens of a member state of the European Union in the foreseeable future, or they will be absorbed by imperial Russia, which is rebuilding its influence in the post-Soviet region.

At Thursday (December 14 - WP note) summit of EU leaders in Brussels, a decision was made to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced on X (formerly Twitter). According to commentators, this is an important message that after the most important precondition has been met, that is, after the war has ended, Ukraine will be ready for political and economic integration with the European Union. Indeed, the country is now in full synchrony with European values, but less so as regards the primary condition, being the end of the war.

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