Ukraine starts EU membership talks in midst of war | DW News

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed the start of talks on his country accession to the European Union. He says Europe cannot be complete without Ukraine as a member. Kyiv will not be able to join the bloc until after the war with Russia is over - and the talks are expected to last for many years.

For more on this, we talk to Sir Michael Leigh. He is a former chief negotiator for EU enlargement at the European Commission. Now he’s Academic Director at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of advanced international studies.

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[wesker]

Allowing Ukraine into the EU makes as much sense as pouring water into a sieve. First, let them finish the war, then make them prove they have eliminated corruption

[lancecahill]

Turkey will be very upset if the EU accepts Ukraine as one of its members.

[nenasiek]

No one should be able to join until they meet the reqierements. Doesnt matter which country we are discussing

[fauzanabdurrahman]

Really like the correspondence. Ukraine is not the only country that wants to join the EU, so they have to do what others do, and since he stated that EU is the "community of law", it does not give Ukraine the ability to waltz easily just because of its current circumstances.

[AttilaPatakiJr]

3:31 🤦‍♂️ Lady,
“… (EU) Annexation process of Ukraine…”?! Sounds like a Freudian slip … Do you mean Accession process? The Russian media is going to love this soundbyte 😂

[lancecahill]

Ukraine is asking the EU to adopt it and to pay its expenses.

[ntro]

let's also not forget that the Netherlands said NO in a referendum that was brushed aside by Dutch EU centric "politicians".

[katerinadicamella]

I don't think join EU it's a problem, the problem was Ukraine want to joining the NATO

[franzehnert]

❤❤❤ no. Ukraine doesn't comply with EU standards !!!❤❤❤

[kennethdonne]

Good morning to you from an Extremely peaceful New Zealand 🎉🎉🎉

[michelnowe]

Ukraine does not need to make a formal peace with Russia before it can become a member of the European Union. We see this with Cyprus, which is partially occupied by Turkey. I suppose that if in ten years or so Ukraine is ready to become a member, but non-democratic Hungary, is still blocking membership, the EU will expel Hungary to welcome Ukraine.

[stupidburp]

Too bad that there are several countries blocking NATO membership for Ukraine. Eastern Europe may have to form their own military alliance.

[DarknessLord]

nu esli s drugimy members of totalitar regims problem didnt be, wy not ? You can also invite Lukashenko, North Korea, China, Vietnam and Putin’s regime and this will be organized criminal groups the confederation) a wy EU, union ? or not EC - Europian Confederation of Global Criminality ?

[ro]

War and Economy is a big problem for membership, talks is just a process that can take decades.
If we could vote tomorrow for Ukraine membership into EU I think a lot of people would vote No.
Ukraine is not a stable country, but the EU at the moment also has a lot of problems and is also not that stable. A lot of people within the are calling for reforms for at least a decade or 2.

[graveperil]

no it will not be able to meet hardly any of the requirements its just a PR event

[Kellonsbillion]

Looking for a way to console Ukraine 🇺🇦

[Tommy]

It would take decades before Ukraine join EU if it ever happens. I would say the chance of Ukraine joining EU is lower than Turkey or Albania joining the EU.

How come it takes North Macedonia and Montenegro takes decades of candidacy but Ukraine have a fast track application to join the EU? North Macedonia and Montenegro are considered more democratic than Ukraine, and Montenegro literally adopted the Euro as a currency. Ukraine joining EU before Montenegro, North Macedonia, or even Albania / Turkey isn’t fair to these countries who have decades of candidacy status.

Ukraine, get in the back of the queue.

[samsungtap]

Yes subsidizing US agriculture in Ukraine will be very popular. Oh you didn't know that US companies have bought much of Ukrainian agriculture. Really very funny.

[anasttau]

That is against the rules of the EU. The question is - Does THIS EU have any rules at

[bjrnhjjakobsen]

Can’t wait till they enter as the new countries always inspires the entire EU system. Poland and Estonia and Latvia have made incredible development.