Ukraine–European Union relations

International relations between the European Union (EU) and Ukraine are shaped through the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). Ukraine is a priority partner within the Eastern Partnership and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The EU and Ukraine have been seeking an increasingly close relationship, going beyond co-operation, to gradual economic integration and deepening of political co-operation.[1] On 23 June 2022, the European Council granted Ukraine the status of a candidate for accession to the European Union.[2]

European Union-Ukraine relations
Map indicating locations of European Union and Ukraine

European Union

Ukraine

The association agreement was initiated in 2012, but the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing the association agreement on 21 November 2013, during the presidency of pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych,[3][4] who attended the EU summit in Vilnius on 28–29 November 2013, where the association agreement was originally planned to be signed but it was not.[5][6] The decision to put off signing the association agreement led to the pro-EU Euromaidan movement.[7] These led to the removal of Yanukovych and his government by parliament after the 2013–2014 Ukrainian revolution in February 2014.[3][8]

The political part of the Association Agreement was signed on 21 March 2014, by the new Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk.[1] Meanwhile, the EU has attempted to stabilize Ukraine by freezing assets of allegedly corrupt Russians and Ukrainians and by granting financial aid to Ukraine.[1][3][9] The economic part of the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement was signed on 27 June 2014, by the new president, Petro Poroshenko.[10] On 1 January 2016, Ukraine joined the DCFTA with the EU. Ukrainian citizens were granted visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days during any 180-day period on 11 June 2017, and the Association Agreement formally came into effect on 1 September 2017.[11] On 21 February 2019, the Constitution of Ukraine was amended, the norms on the strategic course of Ukraine for membership in the European Union and NATO are enshrined in the preamble of the Basic Law, three articles and transitional provisions.[12][13] On 28 February 2022, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially signed an EU membership application for Ukraine.[14] Prime Ministers Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland, Janez Janša of Slovenia and Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic, all being member states of the European Union, visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to express their solidarity and support to Ukraine during the invasion.

Ukraine shares borders with four EU member states; Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania—that stretch about 2,235 kilometres (1,389 mi) in total, with 33 border crossings by road, rail, ferry, and walking and bicycle path.

History

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman meets with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels, 24 May 2018
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President of the European Council Donald Tusk in Brussels, 5 June 2019

Early relations

Ukraine has long been seen as a critical but a difficult political partner of the European Union. According to observers, this is due to such factors as the unwillingness of the EU to expand to the post-Soviet space, the poor performance of the Ukrainian economy, the lack of democracy (during the 1990s), and the internal instability (following the Orange Revolution). Also, some experts notice the importance of the Russian factor in Ukraine–EU relations.

The European project has not been completed as yet. It has not been completed because there is no full-fledged participation of Ukraine. We envy Poland, but we believe that Ukraine will be in the European Union.

PM Tymoshenko during celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism in Poland (4 June 2009)[15]

Ukraine's desire to join the European Union dates back to 1993 when the government declared that integration to the EU is the main foreign policy objective.[16] In reality, little was done since Kyiv had to take into account Russia, which remained its major trade partner and natural gas and fossil energy supplier.

The political dialogue between the EU and Ukraine started in 1994 when the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was signed. That document was focused on economic and social issues and the necessity of conducting public administration reforms and guaranteeing free press and civil rights. The framework set for political discussions was modest: a yearly meeting between EU Troika and Ukrainian leadership and some inter-ministerial consultations. The first EU–Ukraine summit took place in September 1997 in Kyiv. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 1994 entered into force in 1998 and expired in 2008.[17] During the second summit in October 1998 in Vienna, Ukraine–EU relations were defined as a "strategic and unique partnership" and Ukraine first declared its desire to acquire associate membership in the EU.[17] None of the top-level meetings brought major changes to a reserved EU approach. Leaders focused chiefly on post-communism economic transition and human rights records as well as on issues connected to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and its containment.

In 2002, EU Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen said that "a European perspective" for Ukraine does not necessarily mean membership within 10 to 20 years; however, it is a possibility. The same year Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma stated that Ukraine wanted to sign an association agreement with the EU by 2003–2004 and that his country would meet all EU membership requirements by 2007–2011.[17]

Post-Orange Revolution relations

Left to right: Then Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and President Viktor Yushchenko meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in 2009.

The Orange Revolution of late 2004 improved Ukraine's European prospects; the opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko hinted that he would press the EU for deeper ties and described a four-point plan: acknowledgment of Ukraine as a market economy, entry in the World Trade Organization, associate membership in the European Union, and, finally, full membership.[18] Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko asked Brussels mid-December 2004 for a clearer indication of Ukraine's prospects for membership, saying that "The approved Action Plan reflects only the level of Ukraine–EU relations that we could have reached before the presidential elections in 2004."[19]

On 13 January 2005, the European Parliament almost unanimously (467 votes to 19 in favour) passed a motion stating the wish of the European Parliament to establish closer ties with Ukraine in view of the possibility of EU membership.[20] Though there is still a long way to go before negotiations about EU membership can start, the European Commission has stated that future EU membership will not be ruled out. Yushchenko has responded to the apathetic mood of the commission by stating that he intends to send an application for EU membership "in the near future" and that he intends to scrutinise Ukraine's relationship with the Commonwealth of Independent States in order to assure that EU integration is possible, and, if not, to make it possible. Several EU leaders have already stated strong support for closer economic ties with Ukraine, but have stopped short of direct support for such a bid.

On 21 March 2005, Polish Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld noted that Poland will, in every way, promote Ukraine's desire to be integrated with the EU, achieve the status of a market-economy country, and join the World Trade Organization. He also said, "At the present moment, we should talk concrete steps in cooperation instead of engaging in empty talk about European integration". Three days later, a poll of the six largest EU nations conducted by a French research company showed that the European public would be more likely to accept Ukraine as a future EU member than any other country that is not currently an official candidate.

In October 2005, Commission president José Manuel Barroso said that the future of Ukraine is in the EU. On 9 November 2005, however, the European Commission in a new strategy paper suggested that the current enlargement agenda (Croatia and in the future the other ex-Yugoslavian countries) could block the possibility of a future accession of Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, and Moldova. Commissioner Olli Rehn said that the EU should avoid overexpansion, adding that the current enlargement agenda is already quite full.[21]

According to the Ukrainian authorities, the ENP is not an adequate political instrument, since joining the EU was one of principal objectives of all governments since 1993.[16] After the Orange Revolution of 2004 that brought to power Viktor Yushchenko, the EU commission was very slow to react: little progress was made to put the largest European country on a path to eventual membership.

Association negotiations

In March 2007, the EU and Ukraine started talks about a new "wider agreement", aiming at offering a legal framework for a closer economic cooperation and a better political dialogue. It was agreed that Ukraine and the EU would start a parallel negotiation concerning setting up a free trade area. Later in 2007, it was announced that this issue would be incorporated into the draft agreement as a separate chapter.

In our course, aimed at the full return of Ukraine into the united Europe, we do not need alternatives

President Yushchenko at the XVI Summit of Central and East European Heads of States (19 June 2009)[22]

Days before the summit, the Ministers of foreign affairs of Member States agreed during their meeting in Avignon (France) that association agreement to be signed with Ukraine will have nothing to do with the association agreements the EU signed with many Eastern European States (from Poland to Romania in the beginning of the 1990s, Western Balkans by the end of the 1990s). Media reported that the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany were strongly opposed to including "Ukraine is a European State" into EU legally binding documents. This was considered a failure of Kuchma-era politician Mr. Roman Shpek, then Ukrainian ambassador to Brussels. He was replaced by Mr. Andriy Veselovsky, a more experienced diplomat.

A Joint EU–Ukraine Action Plan was endorsed by the European Council on 21 February 2005. It was based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 1994 and provided, according to the European Commission, a comprehensive and ambitious framework for joint of work with Ukraine in all key areas of reform.[23]

Talks on a free trade agreement between Ukraine and the European Union started on 18 February 2008 between the Ukrainian government and the EU Trade Commissioner.[24]

Portugal publicly stated it supports Ukraine's EU accession in July 2008.[25]

On 22 July 2008, it was announced that a "Stabilisation and Association" -type agreement would be signed between Ukraine and the EU on 8 September 2008 in Évian-les-Bains.[26]

Second Tymoshenko government

On 2 October 2008, Ukraine President Yushchenko announced that the Association agreement between the country and the EU would be signed "within six-eight months". On that day, he met with the King of Sweden Charles XVI Gustav, who paid a state visit to Kyiv. According to Yushchenko, "the agreement is half-ready, and he hopes that there will be a possibility to finalise and sign it under Swedish presidency in the EU". He also welcomed the initiative of Eastern Partnership suggested earlier by Polish and Swedish Foreign Ministers.

On 20–24 October 2008, the EU and Ukraine held a negotiation round on the free trade area chapter of the Association agreement. According to some Ukrainian media, the "EU promised to liberalise trade relations". Ukraine's representative told that one must not "focus too much" on negotiation since there is much to be done by the Ukrainian government to meet certain criteria. He also said, that "soon, the Balkans will enter into the European trade space and therefore Ukraine might lose these markets". This was seen as a reason for Ukraine to move forward as least as soon as Balkans, the EU did not comment on that perception.

On 29 October 2008, the EU Commissioner Jacques Barrot and Ukrainian officials met in Brussels to launch negotiations on visa-free travel. Kyiv had been asking for a "road map" to visa lifting, including travel document security, irregular migration, public order and foreign relations. But the EU justice commissioner avoided to give any specific dates. Moreover, the Ukrainian side argued that the 2007 visa facilitation agreement is not fully implemented by the EU member states. The European Commission representative was quoted as saying that Brussels is ready to impose sanctions against those who do not respect the agreement. Spanish, Dutch, German and Belgian embassies were cited among the most active rule breakers. Making visa processing lengthy and expensive is one of the major agreement violations. On 28 October 2008, Belgian PM Yves Leterme told that Ukrainians need to avoid middlemen in visa procedures if they want to reduce their cost. The problem is that some consulates, including Belgian, oblige visa seekers to deal with a middleman.

According to Ukrainian President Yushchenko, some embassies of EU countries often require Ukrainians to present documents, which had not been foreseen in the agreement on simplification of visa regulations. Around five per cent of Ukrainians willing to travel to the EU are denied visas, which, according to Yushchenko, "does not meet the standards of our agreements with the EU".[27]

On 4 June 2009, some media outlets reported that Germany's Free Democratic Party openly stated in its programme that Ukraine has the right for the EU membership in the long term. This was the first major German political party to state this.[28]

On 16 June 2009, a new practical instrument was adopted – the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda.[29]

In September 2009, high-ranking Ukrainian diplomats proposed that Ukraine apply for EU membership after the presidential election in January 2010, around March 2010, which would mean that the official response to the application would likely take place in early 2011 during the Polish presidency of the European Union.[30][31] However, this has not happened.

On 5 October 2009, the Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on issues of European integration Borys Tarasiuk commented "the EU see the implementation of a free visa regime for Ukrainians travelling to member states of the European Union only as a long-term prospect". Ukrainian politicians continue to insist that the implementation of that free visa regime take place by 2012, when the European Football Championship will be held in Ukraine and Poland. According to Tarasiuk, the main obstacles to the implementation of a free visa regime between Ukraine and EU is the fact that Ukraine "hasn't finished its work on legislation concerning forming a demographic [database], which then could become a good basis for issuing biometric passports" and the fact that there is no general database on the issuing of foreign passports to Ukrainian citizens. According to Tarasiuk the EU fear that this grants the opportunity for mass falsification.[32]

On 16 December 2009, the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso stated "our Ukrainian friends need to do more if they want us to help them more." He also stated that "enlargement is not possible in the current situation."[33]

Eastern Partnership (2009)

Members of the Eastern Partnership

Ukraine is one of six post-Soviet nations to be invited to cooperate with the EU within the new multilateral framework that the Eastern Partnership is expected to establish. However, Kyiv pointed out that it remains pessimistic about the "added value" of this initiative. Indeed, Ukraine and the EU have already started the negotiations on new, enhanced political and free-trade agreements (Association and Free-Trade Agreements). Also, there has been some progress in liberalising the visa regime despite persistent problems in the EU Member States' visa approach towards Ukrainians.

That is why Ukraine has a specific view of the Eastern Partnership project. According to the Ukrainian presidency, it should correspond, in case of his country, to the strategic foreign policy objective, i.e. the integration with the EU.[34] Yet, the Eastern Partnership documents (the European Council Declaration of May 2009)[35] do not confirm such priorities as political and economic integration or lifting visas.

Ukraine has expressed enthusiasm about the project. Ukraine deputy premier Hryhorii Nemyria said that the project is the way to modernise the country and that they welcome the Eastern Partnership policy, because it uses 'de facto' the same instruments as for EU candidates.[36]

Under the Eastern Partnership, Poland and Ukraine have reached a new agreement replacing visas with simplified permits for Ukrainians residing within 30 km of the border. Up to 1.5 million people may benefit from this agreement, which took effect on 1 July 2009.[37]

Viktor Yanukovych presidency

In May 2010, President Viktor Yanukovych promised to adopt in June 2010 the legislation necessary for creating a free trade zone between Ukraine and the European Union (EU).[nb 1] Yanukovych expected visas between Ukraine and EU member states to be abolished and that a free trade zone will be created by March 2011.[39]

The Azarov Government continued to pursue EU-integration. During May and June 2010, both Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryshchenko stated that integration into Europe has been and remains the priority of domestic and foreign policy of Ukraine.[40][41][42] The policies of the Azarov Government do not exclude EU integration, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Štefan Füle stated on 12 May 2010.[43]

"An action plan for Ukraine toward the establishment of a visa-free regime for short-stay travel" between the European Council and Ukraine was agreed on 22 November 2010.[44] This roadmap requests major improvements in Ukrainian border control, migration and asylum policies.[45]

Attempts to change the French constitution are currently being carried forward in order to remove the compulsory referendum on all EU accessions of countries with a population of more than 5% of the EU's total population; this clause would apply to Ukraine and Turkey.[46]

Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement

The EU Association Agreement (AA) was initialed on 30 March 2012 in Brussels;[47] but as of November 2012 the 27 EU governments and the European Parliament had yet to sign the accord.[48][49][50] The treatment and sentencing (considered by EU leaders as a politically motivated trial)[51] of former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko have strained the relations between the EU and Ukraine.[51][52] The European Union and several of its member states, notably Germany, have been pressuring Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and his Azarov Government to halt the detention of Tymoshenko in fear of her degrading health.[53] Several meetings with Yanukovich have been deserted by EU leaders, including the German president Joachim Gauck.[54][55]

At the request of opposition politicians in Ukraine, EU government officials boycotted the UEFA Euro 2012 soccer championship in Ukraine.[50][54][56] EU leaders have suggested that the AA, and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, will not be ratified unless Ukraine addresses concerns over a "stark deterioration of democracy and the rule of law", including the imprisonment of Tymoshenko and Yurii Lutsenko in 2011 and 2012.[57][58][59]

A 10 December 2012 statement by the EU Foreign Affairs Council "reaffirms its commitment to the signing of the already initialed Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, as soon as the Ukrainian authorities demonstrate determined action and tangible progress in the three areas mentioned above, possibly by the time of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November 2013". These three areas are: "Electoral, judiciary and constitutional reforms (in line with international standards are integral parts of it and commonly agreed priorities)".[60]

Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, Ukraine's Ambassador to the EU, responded in February 2013 by rejecting any preconditions by the EU for signing the AA.[61] However, on 22 February 2013 a resolution was approved by 315 of the 349 registered members of the Verkhovna Rada stating that "within its powers" the parliament would ensure that 10 December 2012 EU Foreign Affairs Council "recommendations" are implemented.[62] At the 16th EU-Ukraine summit of 25 February 2013,[63] President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy followed up on the December 2012 EU Foreign Affairs Council statement by reiterating the EU's "call for determined action and tangible progress in these areas – at the latest by May, this year".[64]

The same day President Yanukovych stated Ukraine will "do its best" to satisfy the EU's requirements.[64] At the time President Yanukovych was also in negotiations with Russia to "find the right model" for cooperation with the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.[64] But also on 25 February 2013, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso made it clear that "one country cannot at the same time be a member of a customs union and be in a deep common free-trade area with the European Union".[64]

To coordinate preparation of Ukraine for European integration, the Government of Ukraine has adopted a Plan on Priority Measures for European Integration of Ukraine for 2013. Successful implementation of the plan is assumed as one of the conditions necessary for signing of the Association Agreement, planned for 29 November 2013 during Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.[5][65]

In March 2013, Stefan Fuele, the EU's Commissioner for Enlargement, informed the European Parliament that while Ukrainian authorities had given their "unequivocal commitment" to address the issues raised by the EU, several "disturbing" recent incidents, including the annulment of Tymoshenko's lawyer Serhii Vlasenko's mandate in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament), could delay the signing of the agreements. However, the next day the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its optimism that they would still be signed in November.[66]

On 7 April 2013, a decree by President Yanukovych freed Lutsenko from prison and exempted him, and his fellow Minister in the second Tymoshenko Government Heorhii Filipchuk, from further punishment.[67]

On 3 September 2013, (at the opening session of the Verkhovna Rada after the summer recess) President Yanukovych urged his parliament to adopt laws so that Ukraine will meet the EU criteria and it can sign the Association Agreement in November 2013.[68]

On 18 September, the Ukrainian cabinet unanimously approved the draft association agreement.[69]

On 25 September 2013, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Rybak stated that he was sure that his parliament would pass all the laws needed to fit the EU criteria for the Association Agreement since, except for the Communist Party of Ukraine[nb 2], "The Verkhovna Rada has united around these bills".[70]

On 20 November 2013, EU's Commissioner for Enlargement Fuele stated he expected that the Verkhovna Rada would consider and adopt the remaining bills necessary for the signing of the association agreement, planned for 29 November 2013, the next day.[5]

Suspension of association agreement signature

Euromaidan pro-EU protesters in Kyiv, December 2013

On 21 November 2013, the Verkhovna Rada failed to pass any of the six motions on allowing former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to receive medical treatment abroad, which was an EU demand for signing the association agreement.[72][73] The same week Tymoshenko had stated that she was ready to ask the EU to drop the demand for her freedom if it meant President Viktor Yanukovych would sign the association agreement.[74] The same day a Ukrainian government decree suspended preparations for signing of association agreement; instead it proposed the creation of a three-way trade commission between Ukraine, the European Union and Russia that would resolve trade issues between the sides.[72] Prime Minister Mykola Azarov issued the decree in order to "ensure the national security of Ukraine" and in consideration of the possible ramifications of trade with Russia (and other CIS countries[75]) if the agreement was signed on a 28–29 November summit in Vilnius.[72]

The suspension of the association agreement signature initiated a wave of protests that would ultimately overthrow Viktor Yanukovych and his government.[3]

Relations since suspension of association agreement till fall of Yanukovych

On 2 December 2013, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso agreed to meet with a delegation from Ukraine to discuss closer ties with the EU but stated there would be no re-opening of negotiations on the proposed Association Agreement.[76] The same day First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Serhii Arbuzov announced that Ukraine planned to sign a "roadmap" with the EU. "I'm not talking about the conditions of the association but about the conditions we planned to resolve before signing and after signing".[77] Ukraine and the EU started "conducting technical preparations for the upcoming dialogue between Ukraine and the EU on certain aspects of the implementation of an Association Agreement" on 5 December 2013.[78] However, on 15 December Fuele said that the Ukrainian government's negotiating position had "no grounds in reality" and that they were suspending further talks.[79] Barroso said "We are embarked on a long journey, helping Ukraine to become, as others, what we call now, 'new member states'. But we have to set aside short-term political calculations."[80]

On 17 December, Ukraine signed a treaty with Russia under which Russia will buy $15 billion of Ukrainian Eurobonds and the cost of Russian natural gas supplied to Ukraine will be reduced,[81][82] though Putin stated that "today we have not discussed the issue of Ukraine joining the Customs Union [of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia] at all".[83][nb 3] Three days later, high ranking EU-officials stated that the EU is still ready to sign the Association Agreement "as soon as Ukraine is ready for it", that the agreement was also beneficial for Russia and that the EU "is totally not concerned about the fact that Ukraine is signing agreements with Russia".[85][86][87][88][89] On 23 December 2013, Russian presidential aide Yurii Ushakov stated "there is no contradiction" in Ukraine's association with the EU and their observer status in the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union.[90]

On 20 December 2013, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) Volodymyr Rybak did not rule out the possibility of signing an Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU without the creation of a free trade area (FTA).[91] On 24 December 2013, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Leonid Kozhara stated that "at the present time" his Ministry's "and other government agencies' efforts are focused on further negotiations with the EU to provide conditions for implementing the association agreement".[92] He added that "Ukraine will resume the negotiations on this agreement after the holidays" and that the text of the Association Agreement itself would not be changed, but that Ukraine intended to focus on the issues related to its implementation.[93]

On 15 January 2014, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov gave an interagency (ministries and other agencies) working group two months to draw up a plan "on conditions of the implementation of the Association Agreement" for negotiations with the EU.[94]

Euromaidan and ratification of the Association Agreement

Pro-EU demonstration in Kyiv, 27 November 2013
President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, President of Moldova Maia Sandu, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the European Council Charles Michel during the 2021 Batumi International Conference. In 2014, the EU signed Association Agreements with all the three states.

Viktor Yanukovych and his government were removed from their post by parliament after the 2013–2014 Ukrainian revolution in February 2014.[3][8] The ouster of Yanukovych plunged Ukraine into the 2014 Crimean crisis and the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine.[1][3] In March 2014, the EU condemned the Annexation of Crimea by Russia and Russia's "clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces". The EU also froze (and tried to recover) "misappropriated Ukrainian state funds" and froze assets and blocked entry into the EU of Russians and Ukrainians deemed responsible for the unrest in Ukraine.[1][3] The political part of the Association Agreement was signed on 21 March 2014 by new Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk, with the remaining parts of the agreement concerning free trade being deferred pending May elections.[95][1] Customs duties for Ukrainian exports to the EU were temporarily removed in April 2014.[1] Financial help was also promised to Ukraine.[1][3] Ukraine was granted a macro-financial aid bilateral loan of one billion Euro in May 2014.[9] Following the election, new President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and the European Union signed the economic part of the Association Agreement on 27 June 2014.[10] President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy described the signing as a "great day for Europe".[10] Signatory (then new) President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko called it "Ukraine is underlining its sovereign choice in favour of membership of the EU",[10] and also described it as Ukraine's "first but most decisive step" towards EU membership.[96] Poroshenko also set 2020 as a target for an EU membership application.[97] As the Voice of America reported on 27 June, "Terms of the EU agreements require Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine not enter into similar free trade agreements with the Kremlin."[98] On 16 September 2014, the Verkhovna Rada approved the draft law on ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, which was signed the same day by President Petro Poroshenko.[99]

Same year, EU and Ukraine, upon Ukrainian Government's request, agreed to establish European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine), which is a civilian Common Security & Defence Policy mission of the EU for Ukraine's civilian security sector reform that formally began operating in Ukraine on 1 December 2014. EUAM Ukraine, employing over 300 personnel working in main headquarters in Kyiv, as well as in field offices in Lviv, Kharkiv and Odesa and a Mobile Unit today, provides strategic advice and practical support to Ukrainian counterparts. By working with a number of law-enforcement and rule of law agencies (Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Police, National Anti-Corruption Agency, State Border Guard Service, State Bureau of Investigations to name but a few), EUAM Ukraine aims to make civilian security sector more efficient, transparent and enjoying public trust.

The 17th EU-Ukraine summit took place on 27 April 2015 in Kyiv.[100] During an Eastern Partnership summit in Riga in May 2015, EU agreed on a €1.8 bln loan to Ukraine.[101] On 1 January 2016, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU entered into force. By April 2016, the Association Agreement had been ratified by Ukraine and all EU member states except the Netherlands, which held a referendum on approval of the treaty. Following the rejection of the agreement in the referendum, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte said that ratification would be put on hold during negotiations with the other parties to the treaty to find a compromise.[102][103] In December 2016, a decision of the heads of state or government of the EU member states was approved which made legally binding interpretations of the agreement to address the concerns raised in the referendum. In particular, it stated that it did not commit the EU to grant Ukraine EU membership candidate status, provide security guarantees, military of financial aid, or free movement within the EU.[104][105] The decision would enter into force if the Netherlands ratified the agreement, which needed to be approved by its parliament.[106] In late January 2017, the Dutch government introduced a bill to confirm approval of the agreement.[107] The Dutch House of Representatives approved the bill on 23 February 2017.[108] The Senate approved the bill on 30 May 2017.[109]

During the 23rd Ukraine-European Union Summit, on 12 October 2021, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, the Vice President of the European Commission, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Slovenia to Ukraine Tomaž Mentsin signed an agreement between Ukraine and the European Union and its member states on the Common Aviation Area.[110]

On 27 April 2022, the EU Commission proposed to temporarily drop all its tariffs on imports from Ukraine to help Ukrainian industry weather Russian aggression.[111]

On 29 May 2022, in order to support Ukraine's path to the European future,[112] in particular to obtain the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union on 25–26 June 2022,[113][114] the Government of Ukraine launched a communication campaign «Embrace Ukraine. Strengthen the Union».

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (1994)

The political dialogue between the EU and Ukraine started in 1994 when the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was signed. That document was focused on economic and social issues as well as on the necessity of improving public government and guaranteeing free press and civil rights. The framework set for political discussions was modest: yearly meeting between EU Troika and Ukrainian leadership and some inter ministerial consultations. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 1994 entered into force in 1998 and expired in 2008. None of the top level meetings brought any major changes to a reserved EU approach. Leaders focused chiefly on economic transition and human rights records as well as on issues connected to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and its containment.

European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)

ENP partner EU contract FTA provisions Country Report Action Plan Adoption by the EU Adoption by the ENP partner AP duration CFSP invitation[nb 4] EU aspiration[nb 5] Sub-group
Ukraine[nb 6] PCA, March 1998NoMay 2004End 200421 February 200521 February 20053 years Yes[nb 7] YesEast

sources: Wayback Machine, European Commission - Press release - European Neighbourhood Policy: A year of progress, ENP official page EEAS - European External Action Service

A Joint EU–Ukraine Action Plan was endorsed by the European Council on 21 February 2005. It was based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 1994 and provided, according to the European Commission, a comprehensive and ambitious framework for joint work with Ukraine in all key areas of reform.

Eastern Partnership (EaP)

The Eastern Partnership is a forum aiming to improve the political and economic trade-relations of the six Post-Soviet states of "strategic importance" – Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia with the European Union.[116] The EU draft of the EaP states that: "Shared values including democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights will be at its core, as well as the principles of market economy, sustainable development and good governance." The Partnership is to provide the foundation for new Association Agreements between the EU and those partners who have made sufficient progress towards the principles and values mentioned.[117]

Ukraine is one of six post-Soviet nations to be invited to cooperate with the EU within the new multilateral framework that the Eastern partnership is expected to establish. However, Kyiv pointed out that it remains pessimistic about the "added value" of this initiative. Indeed, Ukraine and the EU have already started the negotiations on new, enhanced political and free-trade agreements (Association and Free-Trade Agreements). Also, there has been some progress in liberalising the visa regime despite persistent problems in the EU Member States' visa approach towards Ukrainians.

That is why Ukraine has a specific view of the Eastern Partnership Project. According to the Ukrainian presidency, it should correspond, in case of his country, to the strategic foreign policy objective, i.e. the integration with the EU.[34] Yet, the Eastern Partnership documents (the European Council Declaration of May 2009)[35] do not confirm such priorities as political and economic integration or lifting visas.

Ukraine has expressed enthusiasm about the project. Ukraine deputy premier Hryhorii Nemyria said that the project is the way to modernise the country and that they welcome the Eastern Partnership policy, because it uses 'de facto' the same instruments as for EU candidates.[36]

Under the Eastern Partnership, Poland and Ukraine have reached a new agreement replacing visas with simplified permits for Ukrainians residing within 30 km of the border. Up to 1.5 million people may benefit from this agreement which took effect on 1 July 2009.[37]

Negotiations of an Association Agreement (AA)

An Association agreement (AA) between Ukraine and the EU was negotiated from 2009 to 2011, and should replace the existing PCA. The AA aims for political association and economic integration, includes a "deep and comprehensive free trade area", and runs parallel to the negotiations for a visa-free regime. It does not contain a membership perspective for Ukraine, though it recalls it as "a European country with European identity" and says that "the EU acknowledged the European aspirations of Ukraine".

On 16 June 2009, a new practical instrument was adopted – the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda.[29] 19 December 2011 EU-Ukraine summit, which was intended to lead to the signature of the Agreement, fell short due to the EU's concerns over the jailing of former premier Yulia Tymoshenko. The end of negotiations were announced, but the text of the agreement was not signed with EU leaders deciding to wait until the October 2012 Parliamentary elections as a test of the vitality of democracy and rule of law in Ukraine.[118][119] The AA was initialed shortly thereafter, on 30 March 2012.[48][49] Before it enters into force it must be ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament, the European Parliament, and each EU member state.[49][50] However, EU leaders have suggested that the agreement will not be ratified unless Ukraine addresses concerns over a "stark deterioration of democracy and the rule of law", including the imprisonment of Yulia Tymoshenko and Yurii Lutsenko in 2011 and 2012.[57][58][59] In November 2012, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule stated that the AA, and DCFTA, could be signed in November 2013 if the EU's concerns were addressed.[120][121]

However, in February 2013 Fule warned Ukraine that the agreements could be abandoned if the required reforms are not made quickly. He also stated that Ukrainian membership in the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia would be incompatible with the agreements with the EU.[122]

Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA)

While work on signing a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU first began in 1999,[17] formal negotiations between the Ukrainian government and the EU Trade Commissioner were not launched until 18 February 2008 .[123] As of May 2011 there remained three outstanding issues to be resolved in the free trade deal: quotas on Ukrainian grain exports, access to the EU's services market and geographical names of Ukrainian commodities. Aside from these issues, the deal was ready.[124] Despite those outstanding issues, Ukraine was ready to sign the agreement as it stood. Although it wanted stronger wording on enlargement prospects and access to the EU market for its truckers, Ukraine had more than many other candidates at the equivalent stage of the process. The finalised agreement was initialed on 19 July 2012.[48] Ratification of the DCFTA, like the AA, has been stalled by the EU concerns over the rule of law in Ukraine.[57][58][59] This includes the application of selective justice, as well as amending electoral laws. As a result, the role of Ukrainian oligarchs in sanctioning the agreement was also questioned.[125]

If Ukraine would choose the agreement, the Eurasian Economic Commission's Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia would withdraw from free trade agreements with the country, according to Russian presidential advisor Sergei Glazyev.[126] However, on 21 November 2013 a Ukrainian government decree suspended preparations for signing the agreement[nb 8] that was scheduled to be signed during a 28–29 November 2013 EU summit in Vilnius, and it was not signed.[5][6][72][73][131][132][133][nb 9] The decision to put off signing the association agreement led to 2013–2014 Ukrainian revolution.[7]

EU sanctions against Russia related to its military intervention in eastern Ukraine have been extended until July, 2016.[134] On 1 January 2016, the DCFTA entered into force.

Visa liberalisation dialogue and visa-free regime

  • 2006 Readmission Agreement
  • 2007 Visa Facilitation Agreement
  • 2010 Visa Liberalisation Action Plan

On 22 November 2010, the European Council and Ukraine announced "an action plan for Ukraine toward the establishment of a visa-free regime for short-stay travel".[44] This roadmap outlined major improvements in Ukrainian border control, migration and asylum policies.[45] According to The Wall Street Journal, for the EU, "the visa-free regimes are a key tool for binding their neighbors closer and for advancing reforms in those countries".[135] Negotiations for an amendment to the 2007 Visa Facilitation agreement, which expanded the subset of individuals eligible for simplified visa procedures to include students, NGO representatives and holders of official passports, were finalised in December 2011,[119] and the Visa Facilitation Agreement was ratified by the Verkhovna Rada on 22 March 2013.[136] On 18 April 2013, the European Parliament followed suit,[137][138] and the European Council finalised the agreement on 13 May 2013.[137][139]

In December 2011, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych expected negotiations for full visa-free travel to be completed by the end of 2014.[119] The European Commission stated in November 2013 that Ukraine must strengthen its anti-discrimination laws before the visa-free regime is established.[140] The Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) adopted the remaining four bills needed for the transition to the second (implementation) phase of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan in May 2014 (including bills on improving anti-discrimination laws).[141] When addressing MPs before the vote on these bills Verkhovna Rada Chairman and acting President[3] Oleksandr Turchynov predicted then that "the visa-free regime will be introduced by the end of this year".[141] However, Ukraine should have adopted bills that addresses for six conditions[nb 10] needed for the fulfilment of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan before 15 December 2015.[142] On that day the EU will decide whether the country will get the visa-free regime in 2016.[142] In December 2015, the Commission issued a progress report that found that Ukraine met all the conditions for its citizens be granted visa free travel to the Schengen Area.[143]

The European Commission formally proposed Ukraine be granted visa free travel in April 2016.[144] This was later delayed by the EU,[145][146] postponing the possible date of an agreement to September 2016.[135] The Committee of Permanent Representatives gave its approval in November 2016.[147][148] Visa-free scheme, that will allow Ukrainians with a biometric passport to visit the Schengen Area for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period, would come into force once it is agreed and formally adopted by the European Parliament and the European Council.[147][149] In December, the EU agreed that European Commission or an EU state will be able to suspend the visa waiver for Ukrainians for up to nine months in case of emergencies[150] such as if "[Ukraine fails] to cooperate in taking back illegal migrants, there's a spike in the number of asylum applications, or a security issue arises".[151] The visa-free regime deal was agreed by the EU Parliament and Council on 28 February 2017,[152] approved by the MEPs on 6 April[153] and by the European Council on 11 May.[154] It entered into force on 11 June 2017.[155]

Energy Charter Treaty and Energy Community

Both Ukraine and all EU member states are signatories of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), a legally-binding treaty negotiated following the 1991 Energy Charter political declaration of principles for international energy including trade, transit and investment.[156] The ECT was signed in December 1994 and came into effect in April 1998. Ukraine and all EU member states are also signatories of the 1998 Trade Amendment reflecting the change from the GATT to the WTO.[156]

After its entry into force, Ukraine held an Observer status for the Treaty establishing the Energy Community (also referred as European Energy Community), a community established between the European Union (EU) and a number of third countries in order to extend the EU internal energy market to South East Europe and beyond. The Treaty establishing the Energy Community was signed in Athens, Greece, on 25 October 2005, and entered into force on 1 July 2006. Ukraine soon expressed its interest in full membership. Mandated by the Energy Community Ministerial Council, the European Commission had the first round of formal negotiations with Ukraine in late 2008. After three negotiation rounds, the technical negotiations with Ukraine were concluded in 2009. The Ministerial Council, however, made the membership conditional on legislative amendments. In concrete, it requested Ukraine to revise its gas law so that it complies with EU's Gas Directive 2003/55/EC.[157] Following the amendment of the gas law in July 2010, Ukraine signed the Energy Community Accession Protocol on 24 September 2010,[158] ratified the Treaty on 15 December 2010[159] and officially acceded the Energy Community on 1 February 2011.

Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement

Economic relations

During the 1990s, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy remained major trading partners of Ukraine. According to Eurostat, between 2000 and 2007 EU trade in goods with Ukraine more than tripled in value: exports rose from 5.5 bn Euro to 22.4 bn, while imports increased from 4.8 bn Euro to 12.4 bn. Nevertheless, this increase did not make Ukraine one of the EU's major trading partners. In 2007, Ukraine accounted for only 2% of EU exports and a mere 1% of European Union imports which is toward the bottom of the EU's top 20 trading partners (16th).[160]

According to the European commission paper, trade with Ukraine is dominated by manufactured goods. Nearly half of the EU exports to Ukraine in 2007 were machinery and vehicles and a further quarter were other manufactured articles. A quite similar structure can be seen in imports: unspecified manufactured articles accounted for two-fifths followed by a crude metal for a further fifth. At the more detailed level, the main EU exports to Ukraine in 2007 were medicine, motor vehicles and mobile phones, while the main imports were iron and steel products, as well as sunflower seed oil, ferro-nickel, iron ores and oil.[160]

Among the EU27 Members States, Germany (5.9 bn Euro or 26% of EU exports) was the largest exporter, followed by Poland (4.1 bn or 18%). Italy (2.4 bn or 19%) was the largest importer followed by Bulgaria (1.6 bn or 13%) and Germany (1.3 bn or 11%).[160]

The largest surpluses in trade with Ukraine in 2007 were observed in Germany (+ 4.6 bn Euro) and Poland (+2.8 bn Euro) while Bulgaria scored the highest deficit ( -1.4 bn Euro).[160]

EU Financial Assistance to Ukraine

For the 2000–2006 budgetary period, the financial assistance of the EU to Ukraine was framed in the Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS) programme. Established in 1991, TACIS is a programme of technical assistance that supports the process of transition to market economies for the 11 CIS countries and Georgia.

For the 2007–2013 budgetary period the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) covers the ENP countries, and replacing the TACIS funds for Ukraine.[161]

By May 2014, the EU had disbursed 11 billion Euros in aid to Ukraine.[162]

Ukraine is eligible for horizontal instruments, that cover countries regardless of their region, such as:

  • the Instrument for Stability, a new instrument to tackle crises and instability in third countries and address trans-border challenges including nuclear safety and non-proliferation, the fight against trafficking, organised crime and terrorism;
  • the Macro-Financial Assistance programme

WTO membership of Ukraine (2009)

Since 2009, with the accession of Ukraine to the World Trade Organization, economic relations between the EU and Ukraine have to respect the WTO normative acquis. The EU has always believed that WTO membership can play a key role in supporting Ukraine's economic reform, especially in the context of a transition economy. In joining the WTO, Ukraine benefits from secure access to the markets of all WTO members and commits to providing the kind of stable trade and investment environment that will attract further trade and investment.

Summits

EU-Ukraine Summits

  • 1st EU-Ukraine Summit: September 1997 in Kyiv[17]
  • 2nd EU-Ukraine Summit: October 1998 in Vienna[17]
  • 3rd EU-Ukraine Summit: July 1999[17]
  • 4th EU-Ukraine Summit: September 2000[17]
  • 5th EU-Ukraine Summit: September 2001 in Yalta[17]
  • 6th EU-Ukraine Summit: July 2002 in Copenhagen[17]
  • 7th EU-Ukraine Summit: October 2003 in Yalta[17]
  • 8th EU-Ukraine Summit: July 2004 in the Hague[17]
  • 9th EU-Ukraine Summit: December 2005 in Kyiv[17]
  • 10th EU-Ukraine Summit: October 2006 in Helsinki[17]
  • 11th EU-Ukraine Summit: September 2007 in Kyiv[17]
  • 12th EU-Ukraine Summit: September 2008 in Paris[17]
  • 13th EU-Ukraine Summit: December 2009[17]
  • 14th EU-Ukraine Summit: November 2010 in Brussels[17]
  • 15th EU-Ukraine Summit: December 2011[17]
  • 16th EU-Ukraine Summit: 25 February 2013 in Brussels[17]
  • 17th EU-Ukraine Summit: 27 April 2015 in Kyiv[100]
  • 18th EU-Ukraine Summit: 24 November 2016 in Brussels[148][163]
  • 19th EU-Ukraine Summit: 12–13 July 2017 in Kyiv[164]
  • 20th EU-Ukraine Summit: 9 July 2018 in Brussels[165]
  • 21st EU-Ukraine Summit: 8 July 2019 in Kyiv[166]
  • 22nd EU-Ukraine Summit: 6 October 2020 in Brussels[167]
  • 23rd EU-Ukraine Summit: 12 October 2021 in Kyiv[168]
  • 24th EU-Ukraine Summit: 3 February 2023 in Kyiv[17]

Other EU summits with notable Ukrainian participation

  • Eastern Partnership Summit in Prague in May 2009[169]
  • Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw in September 2011[170]
  • Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November 2013[171]
  • Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga in May 2015
  • Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels on 24 November 2017[172]

Representative of Ukraine to the European Union

  1. Volodymyr Vasylenko (1992–1995)
  2. Ihor Mityukov (1995–1997)
  3. Borys Hudyma (1997–2000)
  4. Roman Shpek (2000–2007)
  5. Andrii Veselovsky (2008–2010)
  6. Kostiantyn Yelisieiev (2010–2015)
  7. Liubov Nepop (interim, 2015–2016)
  8. Mykola Tochytskyi (2016–present)[173]

In a November 2014 poll by Rating joining the EU was supported by all but two Oblasts of Ukraine (provinces); in Luhansk Oblast and Donetsk Oblast (an area known as Donbas[174]) people preferred Ukraine's accession to the Eurasian Customs Union.[175]

Traditionally Western Ukraine is found to be generally more enthusiastic about EU membership than Eastern Ukraine.[176][177][178] In July 2012 and in May 2014 residents of West Ukraine (74% in July 2012 and 81% in May 2014), Central Ukraine (59% and 64%) and North Ukraine (56% and 71%) were the biggest supporters for EU membership.[177][178] A June 2013 poll, on behalf of Deutsche Welle, found that 52% of Eastern Ukraine was in favor of joining the EU.[179] But in a poll by ComRes (for CNN) in May 2014 only 19% of Eastern Ukraine considered Ukraine joining the European Union "Good".[178] The Deutsche Welle poll was limited to respondents no older than 65 years in cities with more than 50,000 people. The May 2014 ComRes poll found out that in the three most eastern Oblasts of Ukraine (provinces), Kharkiv Oblast, Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast, 37% favored an alliance with Russia, 14% backed an alliance with the European Union and 49% stated Ukraine would be better off if it did not ally with either.[178]

Citizens aged between 20 and 39 appeared to be the strongest supporters of joining the EU in May 2010 and December 2011 (in December 2011 the opinion of the age group 18–29 did not vary from one region to another).[180][181] In the May 2014 ComRes poll people aged between 36 and 55 where the strongest supporters of joining the EU.[178]

Ukraine's EU ambassador, Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, stated in July 2011 that business tycoons and politicians from Ukraine's Russian speaking east were as much pro-EU as the Ukrainian speaking west of the country: "If any politician today in Ukraine declared himself to be against European integration, he would be politically dead."[182]

According to a poll conducted in February 2015 in all regions of Ukraine except Crimea, 66.4% would have voted in favor of joining the EU and 33.6% against with a turnout of 76.4%.[183]

91% of Ukrainians support joining the European Union during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine,[184][185] according to a poll conducted by the Rating Sociological Group on 30–31 March 2022.[186]

Support in Ukraine for European Union and Eurasian Customs Union or Eurasian Economic Union membership[187]
2004–2013
DateIntegrationPoll agency
EU EACU neither
November 200456% University of Sussex[188]
January 200863% BBC News[176]
November 201142%40% International Republican Institute[189]
November 201145%34% Razumkov Centre[190]
December 201140%33% Democratic Initiatives Foundation
July 201254% Rating[177]
August 201253%28% International Republican Institute[189]
December 201248%32% Democratic Initiatives & Razumkov Centre[191]
March 201350%37% Rating[192]
June 201359%24%IFAK Ukraine
October 201353%34% Rating[193]
November 201339%37% Kyiv International Institute of Sociology[194]
November 201358%31%11% Brookings Institution[195]
December 201346%36% Research & Branding Group[196]
December 201347%36% Democratic Initiatives Foundation[197]
December 201343%30%20% Research & Branding Group[198]
2014-2019
DateIntegrationPoll agency
EU EACU neither undecided
January 201438%29%25% Sociopolis[199]
February 201441%36% International Republican Institute[189]
February 201447%38% Социс[200]
March 201462%38% Социс[201]
March 201450%27% GfK[202]
March 201453%28% International Republican Institute[189]
March 201459%31% Rating[203]
May 201454% ComRes, CNN[178]
June 201461%22% Razumkov Centre[204]
June 201462% Gorshenin Institute[205]
October 201463.6%13.6%14.6%8.1% Gorshenin Institute[206]
November 201464%17% Rating[207]
December 201473% Deutsche Welle[208]
February 201547%12%27% Kyiv International Institute of Sociology[209]
March 201551.4%10.5%24.7%13.3% Kyiv International Institute of Sociology[210]
March 201552%12.6%22.6%Razumkov Centre[211]
June 201567%12% Pew Research Center[212]
January 201659%16% Rating[213]
May 201646.2%11.6%32.1%10.1%Kyiv International Institute of Sociology[214]
September 201649%25%15% Kyiv International Institute of Sociology[215]
April 201753%18%15%International Republican Institute & Rating[216]
September 201752%14%24%International Republican Institute & Rating[217]
September 201757%15%15%Kyiv International Institute of Sociology[218]
March 201852%18%14%International Republican Institute & Rating[219]
June 201852%18%14% Rating[220]
September 201858%23%9.8%Razumkov Centre[221]
December 201853%13%20%International Republican Institute & Rating[222]
December 201964%13% Razumkov Centre[223]
2020–2022
DateSupport of EU membershipPoll agency
For Against undecided
January 202064%23% Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation.[224]
February 202052.1%19% Kyiv International Institute of Sociology[225]
June 202151.6%26% Kyiv International Institute of Sociology[226]
August 202164%27% Rating [227]
December 202167.1%21.6%9.4% Kyiv International Institute of Sociology [228]
April 202291%4% Rating [229]
June 202287%4%Rating[230]
July 202281%4%Kyiv International Institute of Sociology[231]
October 202286%3%Rating[232]
January 202387%3%Rating[233]
January 202392%National Democratic Institute[234]
July 202385%4%2%Rating[235]

Accession to the European Union

  European Union member states
  European Union member states supporting accelerated membership for Ukraine[236][237]
  European Union member states supporting accelerated granting of candidate status to Ukraine
  Ukraine
  Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories before 2022 full-scale invasion

2002–2005

In 2002, EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenther Verheugen said that "the European perspective for Ukraine does not necessarily mean membership in the next 10-20 years, although it is possible." To join the European Union, the applicant state must meet the political and economic conditions commonly known as the Copenhagen Criteria (adopted at the Copenhagen Summit in 1993), namely a democratic government that recognizes the rule of law and relevant freedoms and institutions. According to the Maastricht Treaty, each current Member State, as well as the European Parliament, must agree on any enlargement.

Obtaining the status of a full member of the EU as a strategic goal of Ukraine was first declared by President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko immediately after his election in early 2005.[238] On 13 January 2005, the European Parliament almost unanimously (467 in favor, 19 against) adopted a resolution on the European Parliament's intentions to converge with Ukraine on membership. The European Commission notes that, although a certain preparatory period has yet to pass, the admission of new members is not ruled out. To which President Yushchenko responded with his intention to apply for membership "in the near future."

Several influential EU leaders at the time expressed support for improving ties with Ukraine. In particular, Polish Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld stated on 21 March 2005 that Poland would support Ukraine's European integration aspirations under any circumstances. In particular, he said: "At this stage, we should focus on concrete steps of cooperation instead of empty talks about pan-European cooperation." Three days later, a survey in the six largest EU countries showed the commitment of EU citizens to accept Ukraine as a full member in the future.

In October 2005, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that "Ukraine's future is in the EU." However, on 9 October 2005, the European Commission, in a new version of the Development Strategy Paper, stated that the implementation of enlargement plans (Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republics) could block the accession of Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the EU should avoid "too much enlargement", stressing that the current enlargement plan looks complete.[239]

Although Ukrainian officials and political scientists mentioned several specific dates for possible membership, only Ukraine's European Neighborhood Policy has been officially proposed to Ukraine by the EU so far. The presidential administration has been critical of the proposed status of neighborhood relations.

2007–2014

In March 2007, Ukraine was offered a Free Trade Agreement with the EU. Although this proposal provoked a much stronger reaction from the Ukrainian state, it did not contain specific plans for Ukraine's accession to the EU in the near future. Some Western European politicians have spoken of the temporary "fatigue of enlargement" of European institutions. Ukrainian observers identify the so-called "resistance group" of Ukraine's accession to the EU. In particular, when concluding the text of the Enhanced Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in March 2007, references to the prospect of membership were excluded from it. "Any mention of the prospect of Ukraine's accession to the European Union has been excluded from the draft enhanced Ukraine-EU agreement due to France's position," wrote the influential German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Italy's position depends on the domestic political situation of this country. Thus, during the election campaign in this country, the government of Silvio Berlusconi gave diplomatic signals that he was ready to support Ukraine's European integration aspirations. His political opponent Romano Prodi, on the other hand, said that "Ukraine's prospects for joining the EU are the same as in New Zealand."

According to the Eastern Partnership policy, Ukraine can become a member of the European Union.[240] On 27 February 2014 the European Parliament passed a resolution that recognized Ukraine's right to "apply to become a Member of the Union, provided that it adheres to the principles of democracy, respects fundamental freedoms and human and minority rights, and ensures the rule of law".[241][242] The European Parliament notes that in accordance with Article 49 of the Treaty with the EU, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, like any other European country, have a European perspective and can apply for EU membership in accordance with the principles of democracy, - said in a resolution of the European Parliament in Brussels, adopted at the last session before the elections to the European Parliament, which took place on 23–25 May 2014.[243] 27 June 2014 The President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso stated that the Association Agreement is the beginning of Ukraine's accession to the EU.[244] On the same day, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele stated that he believed in Ukraine's future membership in the EU.[245]

2014–2022

In March 2016, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker stated that it would take at least 20–25 years for Ukraine to join the EU and NATO.[246] In June 2018, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said he expects Ukraine will join the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation by 2030.

At the X session of the Ukraine-Poland-Lithuania Interparliamentary Assembly, which ended on 8 June 2019 in Kyiv, the parties signed a final document containing an agreement on the strategy of 2025 and 2027 as a period for Ukraine's possible accession to the EU. In 2027, when Lithuania will hold the EU presidency for the second time, the issue of Ukraine will be the main issue on the agenda. If this opportunity is not used, the next "window" will open in 2039, when Poland will preside over the EU and Lithuania will preside only in 2041.[247]

On 23 July 2020, Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine created a tripartite platform for political, economic, cultural and social cooperation - the Lublin Triangle, which aims to support Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO.

In February 2021, the leader of the presiding Christian Democratic Union of Germany, Armin Laschet, who was considered a likely successor to Angela Merkel as Chancellor of Germany, supported the idea of EU enlargement and giving Ukraine a European perspective:[248]

The question of Ukraine's accession to the EU does not arise at the moment, but it will inevitably arise in the future. We must support Ukraine on its difficult path and at the same time open a European perspective.

Quite a few experts believe that in times of deteriorating relations between Russia and the EU,[249] Ukraine has a window of opportunity to join the European Union. Pavlo Klimkin noted that Ukraine still does not meet any criteria for joining the European Union, as it does not have an established democracy, rule of law and a full-fledged market economy. According to him, the first chance was lost in early 2005, when Yushchenko was persuaded not to apply, and in 2014 it was much more difficult to do so.[250]

On 11 February 2021, the European Parliament published a report on Ukraine's success in implementing the Association Agreement with the European Union. The document highlights both the main successes of Ukraine on this path, as well as failures or moments that hinder the reform process in the country. In general, the European Union is not yet ready to officially talk about the prospects of Ukraine's accession to the ranks of member states, but Ukraine's European perspective is recognized.[251] In 2021, Ukraine was preparing to formally apply for EU membership in 2024, in order to join the European Union in the 2030s.[252]

2022–present

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy accompanied by Ruslan Stefanchuk and Denys Shmyhal, showing the application for EU membership candidacy on 28 February 2022.
Two Ukrainian flags next to the flag of Poland and the European Union in central Warsaw, May 2022 - fot. Ivonna Nowicka.

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were additional calls to start a formal accession process. Ukraine reiterated its desire to become a member of the union,[253] and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated that Ukraine belongs in the European Union.[254] Slovak prime minister Eduard Heger expressed support for an accelerated accession process.[255]

On 28 February, Ukraine officially submitted a letter of application for membership. Due to the ongoing crisis, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested immediate admission to the European Union under a special procedure.[256][257][14] Eight EU states signed a letter supporting an accelerated accession process for Ukraine.[236] On 1 March, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó stated his country would also support an accelerated process.[237]

On 1 March 2022, the European Parliament, following a debate in which the President of Ukraine addressed and received applause, recommended that Ukraine be made an official "candidate" for EU membership.[258] The European Parliament has voted to advance Ukraine's membership with 637 voted for, with 13 voted against, and 26 abstained.[259][260] On 2 March, however, Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares stated that "belonging to the EU is not a capricious process or one that can be done by a mere political decision", reminding that the candidate country "must meet certain social, political and economic standards".[261]

On 7 March, the EU said it will formally assess Ukraine's application.[262] On 8 April, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visited Kyiv.[263] Von der Leyen presented president Zelenskyy with a questionnaire for membership.[263] Borrell announced that the EU delegation to Ukraine, headed by Matti Maasikas, will return to Kyiv after it was evacuated at the outbreak of war.[264] On 18 April, Ukraine completed the questionnaire.[265] On 24 May, the Council of the European Union adopted a regulation enabling for temporary trade liberalisation with Ukraine, interrupting all tariffs under Title IV of the association agreement, anti-dumping duties and the enforcement of common rules for imports.[266]

On 1 July 2022, the EU flag was solemnly brought into the hall of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, where it will fly from that time on.

On 17 June 2022, the EU Commission officially announced its recommendation to grant Ukraine EU candidate status.[267] On 23 June 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the immediate granting of candidate status for membership in the European Union to Ukraine.[268][269] On 23 June 2022, the European Council granted Ukraine the status of a candidate for accession to the European Union.[2] In January 2023, the prime minister of Ukraine claimed that the country would join the EU "within the next two years", however, this is seen as overly optimistic within the bloc.[270]

On 8 May 2023, the President of Ukraine[271] established a decree to celebrate Europe Day on May 9, coinciding with EU member states.[272][273][274][275] Representative of the European Commission Dana Spinant welcomed Ukraine's decision to start celebrating Europe Day on May 9, noting that this decision is a reflection of the European identity of the Ukrainian people.[276]

In October 2023, former European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker called Ukraine “massively corrupt” at all levels of society. Juncker, a most experienced expert of EU-Ukraine relations said in an article by the Augsburger Allgemeine that the admission of Ukraine to the EU “would be neither good for the EU nor for Ukraine.” In August 2023, two high-ranking Ukrainian officials were prime suspects in an embezzlement scheme that involved the procurement of humanitarian aid for the war-torn country, and former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov in charge of purchases of arms from Western countries had to resign in September of the same year due to accusations of corruption in his ranks. Juncker’s statements stand in sharp contrast to the acting EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s drive to allow the opening of accession negotiations for Ukraine to join the EU as soon as December 2023. Membership of Ukraine in the EU is seen as a major factor to win the war against Russia as the country relies on military and economic support from other European nations.[277]

Ukraine's foreign relations with EU member states

See also

Notes

  1. Late September 2013 President Yanukovych stated establishing a free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU "will have a significant positive impact on the economic situation in Europe at large and will help the process of Europe's emergence from the crisis" and that according to experts, this establishment would increase the EU market by almost 7%, the production of goods services in Europe by more than 1%, and the exports of European goods and services to the world markets by almost 1%.[38]
  2. The Communist Party of Ukraine wants Ukraine to join the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.[70][71]
  3. Ukraine membership in the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia would end the possibility for an Association Agreement according to statements made by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso in April 2011.[84]
  4. The EU may invite the ENP partner to align itself with EU declarations in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy on a case-by-case basis. Currently, in addition to ENP partners the EU invites for alignment the candidate countries, SAp and EFTA states. Each states decides on a case-by-case basis if to align itself with the particular declaration it is invited to.
  5. The EU takes note of expressed European aspirations by the ENP partner.
  6. Ukraine's deputy foreign affairs minister announced that with the adoption of the action plan for the association agreement between EU and Ukraine, the country effectively quits ENP in favour of stronger ties with the EU. The EU ENP website, however, still shows Ukraine as a participating country as of 21 June 2009.[115]
  7. Not envisioned in the Action Plan, but invitations sent and accepted by Ukraine.
  8. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov stated that the problem that finally blocked the EU deal were conditions proposed for an International Monetary Fund loan being negotiated at the same time, which would require big budget cuts and a 40% increase in gas bills.[127][128] On 7 December 2013 the IMF clarified that it was not insisting on a single-stage increase in natural gas tariffs in Ukraine by 40%, but recommended that they be gradually raised to an economically justified level while compensating the poorest segments of the population for the losses from such an increase by strengthening targeted social assistance.[129] The same day IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Jerome Vacher stated that this particular IMF loan is worth 4 billion US Dollars and that it would be linked with "policy, which would remove disproportions and stimulated growth".[130]
  9. Ukraine and the EU started "conducting technical preparations for the upcoming dialogue between Ukraine and the EU on certain aspects of the implementation of an Association Agreement" on 5 December 2013.[78]
  10. The six conditions are:[142]
    1. 1. Security of Documents
    2. 2. Refugee Policy
    3. 3. Fighting Against Discrimination
    4. 4. Fighting Against Drugs Dealers, Organised Crime in Ukraine and Terror Acts
    5. 5. Fight Against Corruption in Ukraine
    6. 6. Safety of Internally Displaced people and Personal Data

References

  1. "EU & Ukraine September 30, 2019 FACT SHEET" Archived 13 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine, European External Action Service (17 April 2014)
  2. "Ukraine has officially received the status of a candidate for EU membership". www.eurointegration.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  3. "Ukraine crisis: Timeline". BBC News. 13 November 2014. Archived from the original on 3 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2017 via BBC.
  4. "Ukraine drops EU plans and looks to Russia". Al Jazeera. 21 November 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  5. "EU Commissioner Fule expects Rada to pass European integration bills on 21 November" Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (20 November 2013)
  6. Ukraine fails to sign landmark deal at EU summit Archived 13 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Euronews (29 November 2013)
  7. "Ukraine still wants historic pact with EU". Oman Observer. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
    Ukraine police dismantle Kiev protest camps Archived 8 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News (9 December 2013)
  8. "Archrival Is Freed as Ukraine Leader Flees". The New York Times. 22 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  9. Ukraine, EU sign documents required for paying 1 bln euro to Kyiv Archived 13 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (13 May 2014)
  10. EU signs pacts with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova Archived 27 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News (27 June 2014)
  11. "European Commission - EU-Ukraine Association Agreement fully enters into force". europa.eu. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019. (Press release)
  12. "The law amending the Constitution on the course of accession to the EU and NATO has entered into force | European integration portal". eu-ua.org (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  13. "Закон про зміни до Конституції щодо курсу на вступ в ЄС і НАТО набув чинності | Євроінтеграційний портал". eu-ua.kmu.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  14. Treisman, Rachel (28 February 2022). "Ukraine wants to join the EU. Here's how that would work". NPR. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  15. "Tymoshenko: European project not finished because Ukraine is not there". Archived 15 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine, UNIAN (4 June 2009)
  16. SHYROKYKH, Karina (June 2018). "The Evolution of the Foreign Policy of Ukraine: External Actors and Domestic Factors". Europe-Asia Studies. 70 (5): 832–850. doi:10.1080/09668136.2018.1479734. S2CID 158408883. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  17. "EU-Ukraine Summits: 16 Years of Wheel-Spinning". Archived 13 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine. The Ukrainian Week (28 February 2012)
  18. EUobserver article (subscription only)
  19. EUobserver article (subscription only)
  20. "European Parliament resolution on the results of the Ukraine elections (13 January 2005)". Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  21. Mark Beunderman (9 November2005), "Blow to Kiev as Brussels closes door to further enlargement", EUobserver, Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine (subscription only)
  22. Ukraine should be an integral part of Europe – President Yushchenko Archived 22 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine, UNIAN (19 June 2009)
  23. "European Union (EU) and Ukraine". Archived from the original on 22 April 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  24. "Breaking News, World News & Multimedia". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  25. "Portugal supports Ukraine's accession bid to NATO, EU". People's Daily Online. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  26. "New enhanced agreement between Ukraine and EU called "Agreement on Association"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  27. President requests to push improvement of Ukraine-EU visa relations Archived 15 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine, UNIAN (12 June 2009)
  28. "Підтримка з Берліна: німецькі ліберали за вступ України в ЄС | DW | 04.06.2009". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  29. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. "EUobserver / Ukraine diplomats take risk on EU application". 17 September 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  31. Rettman, Andrew (17 September 2009) Ukraine diplomats take a risk on EU application Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, EUobserver
  32. Tarasiuk: European Union not to implement free visa regime with Ukraine in near future Archived 8 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (5 October 2009)
  33. Barroso: Ukrainian friends of Europe should do more if they hope for assistance Archived 12 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (16 December 2009)
  34. http://www.president.gov.ua Archived 25 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine, 24 March 2009
  35. "Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit" (PDF). Council of the European Union. 7 May 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  36. EU expanding its 'sphere of influence,' Russia says Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, EU Observer, 21 March 2009
  37. "Sikorski: umowa o małym ruchu granicznym od 1 lipca". Gazeta Wyborcza. 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  38. Yanukovych: Ukraine's domestic market accession to EU market to help Europe out of crisis Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (25 September 2013)
  39. Yanukovych: Laws for creation of Ukrainian-EU free trade zone will be adopted in June, Kyiv Post (25 May 2010)
  40. Integration into EU unchanged priority of Ukraine's policy, says foreign minister Archived 12 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (15 May 2010)
  41. Ukraine's plans for EU membership unchanged, says PM Archived 12 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (3 June 2010)
  42. Ukraine's parliament votes to abandon Nato ambitions Archived 6 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News (3 June 2010)
  43. Fule: Deepening of relations between Russia and Ukraine – no threat to EU integration Archived 14 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (12 May 2010)
  44. EU, Ukraine Agree On 'Road Map' For Visa-Free Travel Archived 18 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (22 November 2010)
  45. Ukraine's visa-free travel action plan with European Union (full text of document) Archived 27 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (24 November 2010)
  46. "EurActiv.com – French Parliament strikes blow to Turkish EU bid | EU – European Information on Enlargement & Neighbours". Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  47. European Neighbourhood Watch Issue 80 Archived 13 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Centre for European Policy (March 2012)
  48. "Ukraine, EU Initial Deep And Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement With EU". Ukrainian News Agency. 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  49. "EU criticises Ukraine's Oct. 28 parliamentary election" Archived 13 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (12 November 2012)
  50. EU-Ukraine summit 'unlikely' this year Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, EU Observer (5 November 2012)
  51. "The West Australian". The West. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  52. "Kiyv Post". KyivPost. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  53. Elder, Miriam (27 April 2012). "The Guardian". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  54. "Opposition suggests government were behind Ukraine bomb attacks in Dnipropetrovsk". The Independent. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  55. Merkel: Germany tries to negotiate to treat Tymoshenko in Berlin ("Меркель: Німеччина намагається домовитись про лікування Тимошенко в Берліні") Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Ukrayinska Pravda 28 April 2012
  56. Tymoshenko:Austria ministers in Euro 2012 boycott Archived 16 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News (2 May 2012)
  57. Ukraine's jailed Tymoshenko calls off hunger strike Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (16 November 2012)
  58. EU leaders:Ratification of Association Agreement and DCFTA depends on settlement of Tymoshenko-Lutsenko issue Archived 4 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (20 July 2012)
  59. Ukraine's Lutsenko jailed for 4 years (updated) Archived 29 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (27 February 2012)
  60. Council conclusions on Ukraine 3209th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting Brussels, 10 December 2012 Archived 28 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, EU Foreign Affairs Council (10 December 2012)
    EU could sign association agreement by November 2013 Archived 19 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (10 December 2012)
    EU expects Ukraine to conduct reforms that will help implement association agreement Archived 19 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (10 December 2012)
  61. "Ukraine rejects pre-conditions for EU deal". EurActiv. 20 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  62. Parliament passes statement on Ukraine's aspirations for European integration Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (22 February 2013)
  63. Ukraine-EU summit begins in Brussels Archived 14 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (25 February 2013)
  64. EU to Ukraine: Reforms necessary for trade pact Archived 21 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (25 February 2013)
    Ukraine Faces EU Reform Deadline as Key to Association Pact Archived 7 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Bloomberg Businessweek (25 February 2013)
    Yanukovych happy with results of Ukrainian-EU summit Archived 21 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (25 February 2013)
  65. Rybak: Parliament to adopt remaining EU integration laws at autumn session Archived 16 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (30 May 2013)
  66. "Ukraine optimistic about signing association deal with EU in November". Shanghai Daily. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  67. Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych pardons Yulia Tymoshenko allies Archived 20 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News (8 April 2013)
    Ukrainian leader Yanukovych pardons Tymoshenko ally Archived 22 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News (7 April 2013)
    Ukrainian president pardons Lutsenko and Filipchuk – decree Archived 12 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (7 April 2013)
  68. Ukrainian president asks for laws to be passed to facilitate EU association agreement Archived 17 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Euronews (3 September 2013)
    Ukraine leader urges pro-Europe drive despite Kremlin pressure Archived 28 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (3 September 2013)
  69. "Ukraine's Cabinet Backs EU Association Agreement". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  70. EU-Ukraine Association Agreement to be signed, Ukraine to go to Europe – speaker Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (25 September 2013)
  71. Communists call for halt to cooperation with IMF Archived 16 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (7 November 2011)
  72. "Ukraine drops EU plans and looks to Russia". aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
    Ukrainian government issues decree to suspend preparations for signing of association agreement with EU Archived 13 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
    Rada votes down all bills on allowing Tymoshenko's medical treatment abroad Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  73. Cox-Kwasniewski mission to continue until Eastern Partnership Summit Archived 29 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  74. Jailed Tymoshenko on hunger strike over EU U-turn by Ukraine Archived 7 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Euronews (25 November 2013)
  75. Ukraine to resume preparing agreement with EU when compensation for production drop found – Boiko Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  76. EU's Barroso agrees to meet Ukrainian officials Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Euronews (2 December 2013)
  77. Ukraine proposes EU develop 'roadmap' for association, estimates needed aid at EUR 10 b - Arbuzov Archived 5 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (2 December 2013)
  78. Kyiv, Brussels conduct technical discussion of future EU-Ukraine dialogue on AA Archived 2 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (5 December 2013)
  79. "Ukraine, EU trade talks suspended amidst rallies". CBC News. 15 December 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  80. Morris, Chris (29 November 2013). "BBC News - EU rejects Russia 'veto' on Ukraine agreement". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  81. Russian bailout masks Ukraine's economic mess Archived 28 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News (18 December 2013)
  82. Ukraine bailout could derail Putin's drive to boost Russian economy Archived 18 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Financial Times (18 December 2013)
  83. "Russia And Ukraine Sign Deal Despite Protests". Sky News. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  84. Yanukovych Drives Ukraine Toward EU as Russian Natural Gas Agreement Looms Archived 24 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Bloomberg L.P. (25 May 2011)
  85. EU offer to Ukraine is long-term, says Rompuy Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (20 December 2013)
  86. EU reiterates sovereign right of states to make their own decisions without external pressure Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (20 December 2013)
  87. EU-Ukraine partnership treaty not to infringe on Russia's interests, says EU Council president Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (20 December 2013)
  88. EU to sign association agreement with Ukraine as soon as Ukraine is ready for it - Rompuy Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (20 December 2013)
  89. EU not concerned about Ukraine's signing agreement with Russia, says Barroso Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (20 December 2013)
  90. Ukraine's association with EU doesn't contradict observer status in Customs Union - Kremlin Archived 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (23 December 2013)
  91. Rybak says EU-Ukraine Association Agreement can be signed without FTA Archived 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (23 December 2013)
  92. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry continues working on signing of association agreement with EU Archived 25 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (24 December 2013)
  93. Ukraine to resume association agreement talks with EU after winter holidays, says foreign minister Archived 26 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (24 December 2013)
  94. Ukrainian PM Azarov instructs group to plan talks with EU on association agreement implementation Archived 16 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (15 January 2014)
  95. "European Union signs landmark association agreement with Ukraine". Reuters. 21 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  96. Ukraine ratifies EU association agreement Archived 17 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Deutsche Welle. Published 16.09.2014.
  97. Richard Balmforth and Natalia Zinets. Ukraine president sets 2020 as EU target date, defends peace plan Archived 15 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Reuters. Published on 25 Sep 2014. Reuters. 7 November 2016
  98. Archived 17 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Voice of America, 27 June 2014
  99. Shaun Walker in Moscow and Oksana Grytsenko in Kiev. theguardian.com. Ukraine ratifies EU integration deal Archived 9 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Published on 16 September 2014.
  100. 17th EU-Ukraine summit, Ukraine, 27/04/2015 Archived 10 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. European Council.
  101. "EU agrees 1.8bn-euro loan to cash-strapped Ukraine". BBC News. 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017 via bbc.com.
  102. "Spotlight: Dutch referendum says "No" to EU-Ukraine deal". Xinhua News Agency. 7 April 2016. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  103. "Brexit vote will delay decision on EU-Ukraine deal, says Rutte". EUobserver. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  104. "European Council Conclusions on Ukraine (15 December 2016)". European Council. 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  105. By Gabriela Baczynska and Robert-Jan Bartunek. EU agrees Dutch demands on Ukraine deal to avoid 'present for Russia' Archived 20 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Reuters. Published on 15 December 2016.
  106. "Netherlands, EU Reach Deal on Ukraine Association Agreement". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 16 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  107. "Dutch parliament registers bill to ratify Ukraine-EU deal". Interfax-Ukraine. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  108. "Referendums a threat to democracy: Dutch Council of State". NL Times. 6 April 2017.
  109. "Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal - Regeling inwerkingtreding van de goedkeuring Associatieovereenkomst tussen de Europese Unie en de Europese Gemeenschap voor Atoomenergie met Oekraïne (34.669)". www.eerstekamer.nl. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  110. "У межах 23-го Саміту Україна – ЄС підписано низку документів, зокрема Угоду про Спільний авіаційний простір". Офіс Президента України. 12 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  111. Meyer, David (27 April 2022). "Europe throws Ukraine economic lifeline with 'unprecedented' temporary free trade area. Meanwhile, the U.S. still maintains Trump's 25% tariffs on Ukrainian steel". Fortune.
  112. "Embrace Ukraine Campaign Launched In Support of Ukraine's EU Membership - KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice". KyivPost. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  113. "Next EU summit to decide on stages of Ukraine's accession to EU". interfax.com. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  114. "Embrace Ukraine campaign launched in support of Ukraine's EU membership". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  115. Ukraine Effectively Quit ENP Archived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (ukr)
  116. EU assigns funds and staff to 'Eastern Partnership' Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, EU Observer, 20 March 2009
  117. "Values to form core of EU 'Eastern Partnership'" Archived 21 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, EU Observer, 18 March 2009
  118. "Ukraine-EU Summit Joint Statement (20/12/2011)". Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  119. Ukrainian Week Archived 26 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 20 December 2011
  120. "EU Commissioner: EU, Ukraine May Sign Association Agreement Next Year". PR Newswire. 30 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  121. "Füle pours cold water on Ukraine's EU hopes". EurActiv. 30 November 2012. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  122. Auyezov, Olzhas (8 February 2013). "Reform quickly or lose deals, EU tells Ukraine". The Star. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  123. EU launches talks on free trade agreement with Ukraine Archived 18 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, International Herald Tribune
  124. Three outstanding issues remained in FTA agreement between Ukraine, EU, said Ukrainian PM Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Bilaterals 31 May 2011
  125. Kościński, Piotr; Vorobiov, Ievgen (20 August 2013). "Ukraine's EU deal: good or bad for the oligarchs?". Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  126. "Customs Union may withdraw from FTA with Ukraine if Kyiv signs association agreement with EU". Interfax. Russia Beyond the Headlines. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  127. Herszenhorn, David M. (22 November 2013). "Ukraine Blames I.M.F. for Halt to Agreements With Europe". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  128. Evans-Pritchard, Ambrose (22 November 2013). "Historic defeat for EU as Ukraine returns to Kremlin control". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  129. MF not insisting on single-stage increase in tariffs, says resident representative in Ukraine Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (7 December 2013)
  130. IMF links loan amount to Ukraine with reforms Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrinform (7 December 2013)
  131. Ukraine has no alternative but European integration – Yanukovych Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  132. Barroso: EU to continue its dialog with Ukraine on principles of mutual respect, transparency and responsibility Archived 26 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (29 November 2013)
  133. EU and Ukraine say 'door still open' for future trade pact Archived 23 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Euronews (29 November 2013)
  134. Pop, Valentina (21 December 2015). "Russia Hits Ukraine With Tariffs Over Imminent Trade Deal With EU". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017 via wsj.com.
  135. Valentina Pop and Laurence Norman. Georgia, Kosovo, Ukraine's Visa-Free Access to EU Delayed Archived 13 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The Wall Street Journal. Published on 9 June 2016.
  136. Verkhovna Rada ratifies Visa Facilitation Agreement with EU Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (22 March 2013)
  137. European Parliament okays entry into force of amendments to visa facilitation agreement with Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (18 April 2013)
  138. EU and Ukraine: closer ties despite backsliding? Archived 22 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine, EUobserver (19 March 2013)
  139. 3237th Council meeting (page 18) Archived 11 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine, European Council (13 May 2013)
  140. "EU demands more reforms from Ukraine to lift visa barrier [fr]". 20 November 2013. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  141. Rada adopts all laws needed to implement first phase of action plan on visa liberalization with EU Archived 14 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (13 May 2014)
  142. Ukraine's EU visa-free deal in jeopardy as reform deadline nears Archived 22 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Ukraine Today (21 October 2015)
    EU Visa Free Regime for Ukraine: What needs to be done? (GRAPHICS) Archived 9 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Ukraine Today (18 May 2015)
  143. "Commission Progress Report: Ukraine meets criteria for visa liberalisation". European Commission. 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  144. "European Commission proposes visa-free travel for citizens of Ukraine". European Commission. 20 April 2016. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  145. Gabriela Baczynska. EU puts brake on visa liberalization for now amid immigration fears Archived 3 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Published on 1 June 2016. Reuters.
  146. Martin Banks. Poroshenko: Brexit won't prevent EU-Ukraine visa deal Archived 30 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine Published on 9 June 2016. The Parliament Magazine.
  147. "Visas: Council agrees its negotiating position on visa liberalisation for Ukraine". Council of the European Union. 17 November 2016. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  148. Gabriela Baczynska, Philip Blenkinsop. EU states conditionally back visa-free travel for Ukraine Archived 21 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Thomson Reuters Foundation. Published on 17 November 2016.
  149. Ukraine citizens to get visa-free travel to EU Archived 9 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine. BBC News. Published on 24 November 2016.
  150. Gabriela Baczynska. EU unblocks visa-free travel for Ukraine, Georgia Archived 1 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Reuters. Published on 8 December 2016.
  151. Cynthia Kroet. EU moves forward on Ukraine, Georgia visa-free travel Archived 29 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Politico. Published on 8 December 2016.
  152. MEPs and Council negotiators agree to waive EU visa requirement for Ukrainians Archived 2 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine. European Parliament News. 28 February 2017.
  153. "Three million Ukrainians can soon visit EU visa-free". Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  154. "Council of EU finally approves visa-free regime for Ukraine - 11.05.2017 11:26 — Ukrinform News". Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  155. "Ukrainians Wave 'Final Goodbye To Russian Empire' As Visa-Free Travel To EU Begins". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  156. Konoplyanik, Andrei; Wälde, Thomas (2006). "Energy Charter Treaty and its Role in International Energy" (PDF). Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law. International Bar Association. 24 (4): 523–558. ISSN 0264-6811. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  157. "Directive 2003/55/EC of 26 June 2003 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas". Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  158. "Ukraine's Accession Protocol to the Energy Community" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  159. Energy Community congratulates Ukraine on ratifying accession protocol Archived 27 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (15 December 2010)
  160. European Commission/Eurostat paper issued before 9 September EU-Ukraine summit in Paris.
  161. "ENPI Info Centre". Archived from the original on 15 December 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  162. "Into the Fold or Out in the Cold? NATO Expansion and European Security after the Cold War". Video: NATO Expansion and European Security after the Cold War. The Wilson Center. 2 May 2014. See Ischinger comments at 1:32:00.
  163. "EU-Ukraine summit, Brussels, 24/11/2016 - Consilium". consilium.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  164. "EU-Ukraine Summit , 12-13/07/2017 - Consilium". www.consilium.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  165. "EU-Ukraine summit, 09/07/2018 - Consilium". www.consilium.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  166. "Zelensky, Juncker set date for Ukraine-EU summit". UNIAN. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  167. "EU-Ukraine summit to be held in Brussels on Oct. 6 – Zelensky". Ukrinform. 26 September 2020. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  168. "Спільна заява за підсумками 23-го саміту Україна - Європейський Союз". Office of the President of Ukraine. 12 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  169. "European Commission - Brussels, 7 May 2009 Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit, Prague, 7 May 2009". europa.eu. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  170. "European Commission - - José Manuel Durão Barroso President of the European Commission Statement by President Barroso following the Eastern Partnership Summit Eastern Partnership Summit Warsaw, 30 September 2011". europa.eu. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  171. "European Eastern Partnership Vilnius, 28 November 2013" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  172. "Eastern Partnership summit, 24/11/2017 - Consilium". www.consilium.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  173. Poroshenko appoints new envoy to EU Archived 5 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine, UNIAN (4 February 2016)
  174. Poroshenko Bloc, Radical Party and People's Front to enter parliament, latest poll says Archived 1 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (22 October 2014)
  175. (in Ukrainian) More and more Ukrainians want NATO and the EU - poll Archived 6 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrayinska Pravda (20 November 2014)
  176. Ukrainians dream of EU future, BBC News (28 January 2008)
  177. The language question, the results of recent research in 2012, RATING (25 May 2012)
  178. Ukraine favors Europe over Russia, new CNN poll finds, CNN (13 May 2014)
    CNN–Ukraine Crisis Poll, ComRes (13 May 2014)
  179. Ukraine: EU support up again Archived 3 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Deutsche Welle (3 July 2013)
  180. Update: Poll – more than half of Ukrainians support European Union membership Archived 14 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (15 May 2010)
  181. Poll: Less than half of Ukrainians support EU membership Archived 18 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (15 December 2011)
  182. Rettman, Andrew (6 July 2011) Ukraine signals readiness to finalise EU pact Archived 9 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, EU Observer
  183. Support for joining EU rises one year after Revolution of Dignity – poll Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (19 March 2015)
  184. "Record number of Ukrainians support joining EU, backing for NATO membership falls - poll". Reuters. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  185. "Support for EU accession hits record high at 91% in Ukraine, while that for joining NATO slides - poll". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  186. Seventh nationwide poll: Ukraine during the war (30-31 March 2022) - Ukraine - Research - Sociological group Rating (ratinggroup.ua)
  187. brighter colour - more than the alternative, darker colour — equal or more than 50%
  188. ELECTION BRIEFING NO. 16 – EUROPE AND THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2004, European Parties Elections and Referendums Network/University of Sussex
  189. (in Russian) In the EU, 53% of Ukrainians want to, the Customs Union – 28%, 24 (TV channel) (05.04.14)
  190. Poll: Most Ukrainians support Ukraine’s accession to EU, Kyiv Post (14 December 2011)
  191. Poll: Almost half of Ukrainians back Ukraine's accession to EU, Kyiv Post (10 January 2012)
  192. At the crossroads or Integration puzzles, RATING (11 April 2013)
  193. (in Ukrainian) За останні три роки українці все менше хочуть до Росії Over the past three years fewer Ukrainian wish to Russia, Ukrainska Pravda (16 October 2013)
  194. Poll: Ukrainian public split over EU, Customs Union options, Kyiv Post (26 November 2013)
    (in Ukrainian) Which way Ukraine should go - which union should join? (population preferences for two weeks before the Vilnius summit), Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (26 November 2013)
  195. Viktor Yanukovych: Losing Europe...and Losing the Ukrainian Public?. Brookings Institution; November 18, 2013.
  196. (in Russian) Euromaidan 2013 Research & Branding Group (December 10, 2013)
  197. "Опитування / 2013 / 2013-й: політичні підсумки і прогнози (загальнонаціональне й експертне опитування) — Фонд «Демократичні ініціативи»".
  198. "Oценка социально-политической ситуации в Украине. Декабрь 2013 г — R&B Group".
  199. "Evaluation of the inhabitants of Ukraine socio-political situation in the country as of January 2014".
  200. "Почти половина украинцев не поддерживает «майдан». Результаты опроса". Информационно-аналитический портал Inpress.ua. 7 February 2014.
  201. (in Russian) Более 60% украинцев хотят присоединения страны к ЕС (опрос)
  202. (in Russian) Survey on the attitude of Ukrainians to the EU, NATO, Rosia, UNIAN (22.03.2014)
  203. Socio-political expectations: April 2014, Rating (2014/04/07)
  204. "Более 60% украинцев готовы поддержать вступление в Евросоюз и свыше 40% - в НАТО, - опрос". Цензор.НЕТ.
  205. Over 60% of Ukrainians want accession to EU, Ukrinform (17 June 2014)
    (in Russian) 61.5% of Ukrainians want EU membership, - Gorshenin Institute], LB.ua (17 June 2014)
  206. Nearly 40% of Ukrainians ready to demonstrate if authorities do not fulfil promises, Russian News Agency "TASS" (October 22, 2014)
  207. Assessment of the situation in the East. Foreign policy orientations of the population, Rating (2014/11/20)
  208. Год в цифрах. www.unian.net. Published on 28.12.2014.
  209. Support for joining EU rises one year after Revolution of Dignity – poll, Interfax-Ukraine (19 March 2015)
  210. (in Ukrainian) About half of Ukrainian for accession to the EU and NATO - poll , Korrespondent.net (26 March 2015)
  211. (in Ukrainian) Ukrainians do not consider relations with Russia a priority and MS support has fallen to 12%. unian.ua. 23.04.2015.
  212. NATO publics blame Russia for Ukrainian Crisis, but reluctant to provide military aid, Pew Research Center (10 June 2015)
  213. Majority of Ukrainians would favor Ukraine membership in EU and NATO – poll, UNIAN (4 February 2016)
  214. SOCIO-POLITICAL ATTITUDES OF THE RESIDENTS OF UKRAINE AND SUPPORT RATING FOR PARTIES AND POLITICAL LEADERS: MAY- JUNE, 2016
  215. (in Ukrainian) Most Ukrainian want the EU - poll KIIS, Ukrainska Pravda (25 October 2016)
  216. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MOODS OF UKRAINIANS: IRI POLL
  217. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MOODS OF UKRAINIANS: IRI POLL
  218. GEOPOLITICAL ORIENTATIONS OF THE RESIDENTS OF UKRAINE: SEPTEMBER 2017
  219. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MOODS OF UKRAINIANS: IRI POLL
  220. "Ukrainians show stable support of European integration - poll". www.unian.info.
  221. [https://razumkov.org.ua/uploads/socio/2018_Press_release_september.pdf Соціально політична ситуація в Україні]
  222. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MOODS OF UKRAINIANS: IRI POLL
  223. "Over 60% of Ukrainians support accession to European Union, 51% - joining NATO". www.ukrinform.net.
  224. "Over 60% of Ukrainians back Ukraine's accession to EU". www.ukrinform.net.
  225. GEOPOLITICAL ORIENTATIONS OF RESIDENTS OF UKRAINE: JUNE 2021
  226. GEOPOLITICAL ORIENTATIONS OF RESIDENTS OF UKRAINE: JUNE 2021
  227. "ПОКОЛІННЯ НЕЗАЛЕЖНОСТІ: ЦІННОСТІ ТА МОТИВАЦІЇ". ratinggroup.ua.
  228. "ATTITUDES TOWARDS UKRAINE'S ACCESSION TO THE EU AND NATO, ATTITUDES TOWARDS DIRECT TALKS WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN AND THE PERCEPTION OF THE MILITARY THREAT FROM RUSSIA: THE RESULTS OF A TELEPHONE SURVEY CONDUCTED ON DECEMBER 13-16, 2021". kiis.com.ua.
  229. THE SEVENTH NATIONAL POLL: UKRAINE DURING THE WAR (MARCH 30-31, 2022)
  230. THIRTEENTH NATIONAL SURVEY: FOREIGN POLICY ORIENTATIONS (JUNE 18-19, 2022)
  231. GEOPOLITICAL ORIENTATIONS OF RESIDENTS OF UKRAINE: RESULTS OF A TELEPHONE SURVEY CONDUCTED ON JULY 6-20, 2022
  232. FOREIGN POLICY ORIENTATIONS OF THE UKRAINIANS IN DYNAMICS (OCTOBER 1-2, 2022)
  233. TWENTIETH NATIONAL POLL. FOREIGN POLICY MOODS (JANUARY 14-16, 2023)
  234. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING UKRAINE’S DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION
  235. SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL UNIONS: SURVEY IN UKRAINE AND EUROPE (JULY 4-10, 2023)
  236. "Presidents of 8 EU states call for immediate talks on Ukrainian membership". Reuters. Warsaw. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  237. "Hungary supports bid for Ukraine to become EU member, says minister". Reuters. Budapest. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  238. "Ukraine | European Commission". Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  239. Beunderman, Mark (9 November 2005). "Blow to Kiev as Brussels closes door to further enlargement". EU observer. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  240. Rettman, Andrew (22 October 2010). "EUobserver / EU unlikely to expand into post-Soviet east in next decade". Euobserver.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  241. "Ukraine: MEPs urge EU to help financial rescue, but enact targeted sanctions too | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 27 February 2014. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  242. "Martin Schulz: The European Parliament endorses the European perspective of Ukraine - Feb. 27, 2014". KyivPost. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  243. "Georgia can apply for EU membership if it complies with democratic principles". Trend.Az. 18 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  244. Шинкарук, Дмитрий (27 June 2014). "Угода про асоціацію є початком вступу до ЄС – Ж. Баррозу". «Інформаційне агенство Українські національні новини». Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  245. Шинкарук, Дмитрий (27 June 2014). "Ш. Фюле: Угода про асоціацію – не кінцева мета співробітництва". «Інформаційне агенство Українські національні новини». Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  246. "Juncker Says Ukraine Not Likely To Join EU, NATO For 20-25 Years". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  247. "Польща і Литва: 2025-2027 роки - "вікно" для вступу України до ЄС". Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  248. "Наступник Меркель оцінив шанси України стати членом ЄС". Слово і Діло. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  249. "Росія заявляє про готовність розірвати відносини з ЄС". Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  250. "Клімкін озвучив умови, за яких Україна може стати членом НАТО до 2030 року". Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  251. "Конституційна криза, корупція, олігархи: Європарламент опублікував доповідь по Україні". Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  252. "У 2024 році Україна подасть заявку на вступ до ЄС". www.ukrinform.ua. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  253. "As Russia invades, Ukraine makes appeal for EU membership". POLITICO. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  254. "Ukraine belongs in EU, Commission chief von der Leyen says". POLITICO. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  255. "Slovakia pushes for 'special track' for Ukraine toward joining EU". POLITICO. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  256. Prentice, Alessandra (28 February 2022). Lawson, Hugh (ed.). "Ukrainian president signs formal request to join the European Union". Reuters. Reporting: Zinets, Natalia; Polityuk, Pavel. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  257. "Zelenskiy Calls For Ukraine's Immediate EU Membership But Bloc Cool On Idea". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  258. "The European Parliament has recommended that Ukraine be granted EU candidate status". eurointegration (in Ukrainian). 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  259. "European Parliament Votes to Advance Ukraine's Application for EU Membership". National Review. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  260. "Here Are the Members of Parliament Who Voted to Deny Ukraine's EU Admission". MSN. March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  261. "Ucrania reclama a España que apoye de forma "explícita" la reivindicación de adhesión a la UE". Europa Press. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  262. Barigazzi, Jacopo (7 March 2022). "EU to officially examine Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia's bids to join the bloc". Politico. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  263. "Ukraine: EU chief offers Kyiv fast track to membership". Deutsche Welle. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  264. "EU says resuming diplomatic presence in Kyiv". Reuters. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  265. "Ukraine completes questionnaire for EU membership - official". Reuters. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  266. "Ukraine: Council adopts temporary trade liberalisation with Ukraine". consilium.europa.eu. 24 May 2022.
  267. "Ukraine's bid to join EU gets major boost as executive backs candidacy". edition.cnn.com. 17 June 2022.
  268. "The European Parliament has supported candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova". www.eurointegration.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  269. "Grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova without delay, MEPs demand | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  270. "Ukraine wants to join EU within two years, PM says". POLITICO. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  271. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 8 травня 2023 year № 266/2023 «Про День Європи» (in Ukrainian)
  272. "President's Decree declares May 9 as Europe Day in Ukraine". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  273. Service, RFE/RL's Ukrainian. "Zelenskiy Declares May 9 'Europe Day' Ahead Of Russia's World War II Anniversary". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  274. "Україна щорічно 9 травня відзначатиме День Європи - указ президента". www.eurointegration.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  275. Julia Mueller (8 May 2023). "Ukraine will now celebrate 'Europe Day' on Russia's 'Victory Day'". The Hill. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  276. "EU on Ukraine's decision to celebrate Europe Day on 9 May: "Reflection of the European identity of the Ukrainian people"". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  277. HÜLSEMANN L (Oct 5, 2023). “Juncker: Ukraine is totallycorrupt” Politico. Oct 6 2023.

Literature

  • Anatolij Ponomarenko: "Die europäische Orientierung der Ukraine: Dekret des Präsidenten der Ukraine über die Strategie der Integration der Ukraine in die Europäische Union; Partnerschaftsabkommen zwischen der EU und der Ukraine". Zentrum für Europäische Integrationsforschung, Bonn 1999. 42 S. ISBN 3-933307-39-2 (in German)
  • Dezseri, Kalman [ed.]: Economic and political relations after the EU enlargement: the Visegrad countries and Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldov, Budapest 2004.
  • Wolfgang Tiede and Sabina Krispenz: "Die Ukraine auf dem Weg in die Europäische Union?" ("Ukraine on the way to the European Union?" in Osteuropa-Recht (OER)) 2008 (German Law Journal), vol. 6, pp. 417–426.
  • Wolfgang Tiede and Christina Schröder: Die Ukraine auf dem Weg in die NATO? ("Ukraine on the Way to NATO Membership?"), in Osteuropa-Recht (OER) 2009 (German Law Journal), vol. 3, pp. 294–304 (in German).
  • Andreas Umland: "Europa und die ukrainische Misere: Weil die EU dem Land eine Mitgliedschaft gar nicht in Aussicht stellt, trägt sie zum Chaos in Kiew bei. Ein historischer Fehler", in: Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, 1 November 2009, p. 15 (in German).
  • Wolfgang Tiede and Jakob Schirmer: "Strategische Notwendigkeit – Die Östliche Partnerschaft der Europäischen Union" ("The EU's Eastern Partnership"), in "WeltTrends" (Zeitschrift für internationale Politik und vergleichende Studien), 71/2010, pp. 10–14 (in German).
  • Dmitry Yefremenko. Life after Vilnius. A new geopolitical configuration for Ukraine. - Russia in global affairs. - Vol. 11, No. 3 - July – September 2013. Electronic version: Life after Vilnius Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.