EU membership of Ukraine

March 2, 2022

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, recently asked European Union (EU) to allow Ukraine to immediately become a member, under a special procedure.

Key Points

Following the request, President of European Council Charles Michel noted that, the council will have to “seriously look at Ukraine’s request for EU membership”.
Ukraine has filed the membership application as it defends against Russian invasion.
The European bloc has also decided to send USD 450 million in military aid to Ukraine, apart from humanitarian support.

Ceasefire Talks

Officials from Russia and Ukraine met at the Belarusian border for ceasefire talks. While, Western countries are steadily coming together to further isolate Russia economically and diplomatically. Military of Ukraine has been holding up gallantly against Russia, that has attacked its neighbour and a former member of erstwhile Soviet Union from the north, east and south, despite strict warnings of sanctions from the West. Russia has damaged several key defence and civil installations inside Ukraine.

EU-Ukraine Relations

Relations between the EU and Ukraine are shaped through Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement and the Deep & Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). Ukraine is a priority partner within Eastern Partnership as well as European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). EU and Ukraine are seeking a close relationship with each other through gradual economic integration and deepening political co-operation.

When was Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement signed?

The economic part of Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement was signed in 2014 by the new president, Petro Poroshenko. Ukraine joined DCFYA in 2016, with EU. Ukrainian citizens were given visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days. In February 2019, Constitution of Ukraine was amended. Norms on the strategic course of Ukraine for membership in NATO and the European Union are enshrined in the preamble of Basic Law. Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, President Zelensky signed an EU membership application for Ukraine on February 28, 2022. On March 1, 2022, the European Parliament recommended to make Ukraine an official “candidate” for EU membership.

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