Brussels – Doubts have begun to emerge even in Ukraine. With just nine months left until the end of the year, EU accession negotiations remain blocked by Hungary over the opening of the first cluster of chapters, while work on reforms in Kyiv has slowed to the point of near paralysis. Against this backdrop, the prospect of EU membership by 2027 now seems entirely out of reach – if it was ever a realistic prospect.
“Demanding a date for EU accession is in the realm of fantasy,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s EU Integration, in an interview with Ukrinform, Ukraine’s national news agency.
Strongly advocated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the 2027 target is rejected by the MP elected with the pro-EU party European Solidarity (affiliated with the European People’s Party). “It is neither in our interests nor in those of the European Union for us to enter the EU unprepared,” which would be the case if Kyiv were granted privileged access to the Union. Klympush-Tsintsadze said she wants Ukraine to secure “strong positions in the European Union,” a goal that requires time to align with EU standards and to negotiate the terms of accession properly.
What holds back the 2027 goal
The 2027 deadline for Ukraine’s accession to the EU first appeared in the draft peace plan aimed at ending the Russian invasion, negotiated by Kyiv with the US administration. Klympush-Tsintsadze noted this was most likely a Ukrainian initiative without the involvement of Brussels and expressed astonishment at the decision to include a clause that concerns neither the US nor Russia, “but only Ukraine and the European Union.”
Her interpretation of what she described as “a wrong approach” is based on two factors – one external and one internal.
Even if the entire accession process were completed within a few months and a decision on Ukraine’s membership were taken in Brussels, the Accession Treaty would still need to be ratified by all national parliaments of the 27 current member states and, in some cases, approved in referendums. “This is physically impossible to achieve by 2027.”
The informal start of accession negotiations is positive news for Kyiv, as it demonstrates Brussels’ willingness to find “unique” solutions even within a standardised process. The Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s EU Integration pointed out that “a mechanism was found, despite Hungary’s veto, to convey their negotiating positions on all six clusters.” Ukraine can now determine its own next steps in order to “move as quickly as possible.”
However, “for the past five or six months,” work on reforms has stalled at both parliamentary and government level, calling into question “whether we are serious” about EU membership and its conditions. This is particularly the case in Cluster 1 – ‘Fundamentals’ – the first cluster of negotiating chapters to be opened and the last to be closed, which focuses on economic criteria, the functioning of democratic institutions, and public administration reform.
“If we did our homework, the sceptics in the European Union would have far less reason to be concerned,” Klympush-Tsintsadze warned during the interview with Ukrinform.
The weaknesses encompass both the Ukraine Facility Plan – which is “directly” tied to the disbursement of EU funds – and the so-called ‘Kachka-Kos Plan’, a ten-point reform programme agreed in December 2025 for the implementation of key measures in 2026. If Kyiv does not begin to change course on fundamental reforms, “more and more” EU member states may begin to question the feasibility of Ukraine’s accession path.
Another challenge for the EU negotiations, according to the Ukrainian MP, is connected to “restoring balance and accountability of the government to parliament.” A change of attitude is required from the President and his Office, even in times of war, to fully respect the division of powers in a parliamentary-presidential republic. Otherwise, “it is very difficult to talk about rapid progress” towards the EU.
A road without rose petals
“Ukraine must be in the EU, but this does not mean that the road will be strewn with rose petals,” warned Klympush-Tsintsadze, referring to the “idea of inevitability” dominating in Brussels, though not without “individual sceptics.” Certain sectors, she added, will face “difficult” discussions, starting with agriculture.
For example, representatives of the agricultural sector “in Belgium and France” have already begun expressing concern about the implications of Ukraine’s EU accession for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), both financially and in terms of policy.
Concerns within EU member states about Kyiv’s membership “will always be amplified and manipulated” by Russia, turning expressions of concern into “demonstrations, harsh statements or actions.” The only way to counter this threat, according to Klympush-Tsintsadze, is to conduct close dialogue with EU institutions and “certain” capitals, while also doing “our homework.”
Again, attention turns back to the candidate country. Speaking about agriculture, the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s EU Integration said she is “outraged” that this policy area falls within the remit of the same ministry that also handles the economy and the environment. “We have a monster ministry,” she stressed, noting that agriculture and ecology are among “the most difficult areas” in accession negotiations.
“We need serious institutions that would shape policy, provide information to refute myths, and have their own full-fledged representatives for negotiations,” she said in the interview with Ukrinform. With no political changes on the horizon, “we are shooting ourselves in the foot.”
The state of EU-Ukraine relations
Just four days after the start of Russia’s war of aggression, on 28 February 2022, Ukraine submitted its application for EU membership. On 23 June 2022, the European Council endorsed the European Commission’s recommendation to grant Kyiv candidate status.
At the European Council meeting on 14 December 2023, EU leaders gave the green light to open accession negotiations. Following the Council’s approval of the negotiating frameworks, the first intergovernmental conference was held on 25 June 2024 in Luxembourg. As recognised in the 2025 Enlargement Package, the screening process has been successfully concluded and Kyiv is now ready to open all clusters.
With Hungary continuing to veto the start of Ukraine’s EU negotiations and Kyiv’s goal to complete them by the end of 2028, on 11 November the Danish presidency secured enough informal support among the member states in the Council to continue engaging with the candidate country at working level. The discussions – focused on monitoring progress in the implementation of the EU-related reforms – are taking place solely at a technical level, with no political decisions and no clusters of chapters formally opened or closed.
On 17 March 2026, technical guidance was provided to both Ukraine and Moldova to continue work on EU reforms across all six negotiating clusters, until political conditions allow the formal process to begin – meaning Hungary lifting its veto.
Once Cluster 1 – ‘Fundamentals’ – the first group of five negotiating chapters (out of 33), focusing on economic criteria, the functioning of democratic institutions, and public administration reform – is opened, the other groups of negotiating chapters can follow. The unanimous approval of all 27 EU member states in the Council is now the only step remaining.
