Poland Commits to Prioritizing Ukraine’s EU Membership During Its Presidency

Key Points:

1. Poland has pledged to actively promote Ukraine’s EU accession.
2. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk committed to accelerating Ukraine’s EU membership process during Poland’s presidency of the EU Council.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy underscored the urgency of joining the EU, framing it as a vital security matter.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed that his country will prioritize Ukraine’s path to European Union membership. As Poland assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union from January 1 to June 30, 2025, Tusk emphasized his commitment to advancing Ukraine’s accession process.

"We will break the standstill on this issue. We will accelerate the accession process," Tusk stated during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw.

Zelenskyy, in turn, highlighted the critical importance of Ukraine’s EU and NATO membership, stressing that Ukraine’s sovereignty is essential for the security of Poland and other European nations.

Ukraine-EU Negotiations to Begin in 2025
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that talks on Ukraine’s EU membership fundamentals could start in early 2025, with additional negotiation clusters opening throughout 2024. She praised Ukraine’s progress, noting its significant strides toward meeting EU membership criteria.

Zelenskyy has set an ambitious goal for 2025: to open all negotiation clusters, with at least two clusters targeted during Poland’s EU presidency. "Our aim is clear — to open all clusters next year," Zelenskyy stated in December 2024.

Challenges Ahead
While Ukraine has shown determination, its EU membership aspirations face potential challenges. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi suggested Ukraine could join the bloc by 2029, provided it fulfills required reforms.

However, recent tensions with Slovakia, following Ukraine’s decision to halt Russian gas supplies, have raised concerns. Slovakia’s ruling party, Hlas-SD, hinted at reconsidering its support for Ukraine’s EU bid if disagreements persist.

Despite these obstacles, Poland’s leadership during the EU presidency is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Ukraine’s membership aspirations.