A U.S. proposal to fast-track Ukraine’s accession to the European Union by 2027 as part of a plan to end the war with Russia was met with scepticism in Brussels on Friday, with EU officials and diplomats dismissing the timeline as unrealistic.
The idea is included in the latest version of a U.S.-led peace initiative, which would also require Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, and has triggered intense diplomatic discussions across Europe in recent weeks.
EU officials stressed that accession is a complex, multi-year process requiring unanimous approval from all member states at dozens of stages. “2027, it’s tomorrow,” one EU official told AFP on condition of anonymity, noting the normally slow pace of decision-making in Brussels.
Even the most optimistic figures within the bloc had previously pointed to 2030 as the earliest plausible date for Ukrainian membership. Another European diplomat rejected the U.S. proposal outright, saying Washington could not dictate enlargement decisions to the EU.
Beyond political obstacles, diplomats cited unresolved questions over agriculture, market integration, rule-of-law reforms, and Ukraine’s ability to meet accession criteria while fighting an ongoing war.
