EU Discontent with Ukraine Over Rapid EU Membership Expectations

Several EU countries are unhappy with Ukraine due to the expectations of rapid accession to the EU. This was reported by the Financial Times, as relayed by Gazeta.ru.

"Although EU leaders have refrained from publicly commenting on Ukraine's aspirations for membership, some governments have privately criticized Ukrainian politicians for expecting a swift conclusion to the process, while also blaming EU leaders for encouraging such hopes," the article states.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna remarked in an interview that Europeans should avoid sending "negative messages" regarding the country's prospects for EU membership. She noted that some EU diplomats hold unrealistic expectations about the speed of the accession process.

Earlier, Stefanishyna mentioned in an interview with the Financial Times that negotiations for the republic's EU membership would commence in 2023, as Kyiv is making significant progress on the path of reforms.