Ukraine on the verge of accession talks with the European Union.

European Council President António Costa affirmed the European Union’s commitment to begin accession talks with Ukraine as quickly as possible, without specifying a clear timeline. During a visit to Oslo, Costa stated the EU aspires to “move forward with the enlargement process” and initiate formal negotiations “as soon as possible,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining the pace of progress.

This announcement follows Ukraine's application for EU membership following the Russian invasion in 2022, with expectations that the accession process could take years. While some proposals, such as the suggested U.S. plan, envision Ukraine’s membership by January 2027, observers consider this timeframe highly ambitious.

Costa praised Ukraine’s progress in implementing the necessary reforms for EU membership, even amidst the challenging circumstances the country faces. Regarding proposals for granting Ukraine “limited” or “reduced” membership, Costa reiterated the EU’s commitment to established rules and procedures for accession, referencing the “Copenhagen criteria” adopted in 1993 which candidate countries must fulfill.

It is worth noting that unanimous approval from all EU member states is required for Ukraine’s accession, a process facing challenges from Hungary under the leadership of Viktor Orbán, despite Budapest’s approval of Ukraine’s candidate status in 2022.

Past experiences illustrate significant variation in the length of the accession process, with Finland joining just three years after its application, while Turkey’s accession talks have been stalled for approximately 30 years.