At 35, Ukraine Has No More Time to Fail
On its 35th Independence Day, Ukraine has a credible path to EU membership that did not exist before Russia’s full-scale invasion. But unfinished judicial and anti-corruption reforms, political shifts in Europe and Kyiv’s handling of its partners risk squandering an opportunity the country may never receive again.
At 35 years of independence, Ukraine no longer has the luxury of treating corruption, institutional weakness and political amateurism as growing pains. The European Union offers Ukraine its greatest geopolitical opportunity yet, but Ukraine must meet stringent benchmarks in areas such as border management, the rule of law, and corruption.
Without Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine's path to EU membership was not guaranteed. When the EU granted Ukraine candidate status in June 2022, it marked a significant achievement for Ukraine's fight for survival. However, recent reforms tied to EU accession have raised concerns. While some institutions like the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office have made genuine progress, many sectors of the legal system remain vulnerable to reversal.
The EU's candidate status and accession negotiations demonstrate Ukraine's ideological and political support, but the political chemistry within the EU, particularly Germany and France, could potentially impact Ukraine's membership prospects. President Zelensky must approach EU partners with a more nuanced understanding of the political landscape post-2022.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- At 35, Ukraine Has No More Time to Fail kyivpost.com
