António Costa promises swift EU accession progress for Ukraine
- António Costa visited Kyiv on December 1, 2024, to discuss Ukraine's EU accession progress with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- During the visit, Costa announced plans to work on opening at least two areas of accession negotiations by mid-2025.
- The visit reflects a strengthened commitment to support Ukraine financially and politically amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
On December 1, 2024, in Kyiv, Ukraine, António Costa, the newly inaugurated president of the European Council, committed to accelerating Ukraine's integration into the European Union during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This visit also included participation from Kaja Kallas, the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Marta Kos, the new EU Enlargement Commissioner. Costa emphasized the importance of expediting accession talks, particularly aiming to advance at least two areas of negotiations by mid-2025. This initiative follows Ukraine receiving EU candidate status in June 2022 and the formal opening of accession negotiations in June 2024, as part of a broader commitment to support Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression. In addition to accession talks, Costa voiced strong support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia, pledging further financial aid. He noted that beginning in 2025, the European Union would allocate 1.5 billion Euro each month in support derived from frozen Russian assets. This aid is expected to play a critical role as Ukraine continues its efforts to resist the ongoing invasion and stabilize its economy. The visit came at a crucial time as the European Union plans to enhance its economic pressure on Russia through additional sanctions. Costa assured that these measures are designed to not only support Ukraine but also to undermine the financial capabilities of Russia in continuing its military operations. He highlighted that the EU's stance is united and that they would intensify their efforts in sanctioning Russia to ensure that both Ukraine's needs are met and that Russia is held accountable for its actions. While formal negotiations have begun, the timeline for Ukraine's full EU membership remains uncertain, particularly as the conflict with Russia persists. Many experts believe that it is unlikely Ukraine will gain full EU membership before the ongoing war is resolved. However, Costa's promises signal a renewed commitment from the EU to support Ukraine's aspirations and its path towards European integration, demonstrating a strategic interest in stabilizing the region and enhancing security cooperation in the face of external threats.