Eurofasttrack. Why the EU should quickly pull Ukraine into its fold

Ukraine is on the verge of a significant change in the war: Donald Trump's victory in the US election and the difficult situation on the frontline have raised serious expectations of a cessation of hostilities and a truce, and possibly a peace agreement. However, any truce established along the contact line, if accompanied by the loss of prospects for a Euro-Atlantic future, will have serious negative political consequences for the country. The only effective compensator in such a situation can only be Ukraine's accelerated, booster integration into the European Union. The EU, along with its key Euro-Atlantic allies, the United States and the United Kingdom, cannot repeat the mistake of 2013 and lose Ukraine.

Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election brings new uncertainties and risks to Ukraine, while also opening up an opportunity to end the bloodiest war in Europe since World War. This moment calls for prudent and strategic thinking to ensure not only an end to the war, but also the creation of a foundation for lasting peace and stability in the region.

For Ukraine, ending the war is a vital necessity. More than a million mobilized Ukrainians are eager to return to peaceful life, rebuild their homes and reunite with their families. The war has forced millions of people to flee their homes and dealt a devastating blow to the country's economy and infrastructure.

However, a simple ceasefire, even with certain security guarantees, risks being perceived as a defeat in Ukrainian society, especially by those most affected by Russia's attack. The military and the families of the victims may view this as a betrayal of national interests. Even the multibillion- dollar reconstruction programs that would be launched in the event of a ceasefire (and their scope is still an open question) would not compensate for the sense of devastation and loss.

These sentiments will have a significant impact on the political situation in the country: revanchist views and political instability could seriously undermine Ukraine's fragile recovery, plunging it into a state of political turbulence. To avoid such consequences, Ukrainians need to receive something symbolically meaningful, but at the same time critical to the national spirit. This should be a kind of compensation for the enormous human losses caused by the war, as well as for the territorial losses that may be recorded as a result of the negotiation process.

Peace must be accompanied by a transformational step forward. For Ukraine, there can be only one such step: an accelerated and successful path to EU membership. The key word here is "accelerated."

EU membership will be a real civilizational breakthrough for Ukraine, providing not only economic benefits but also full integration into the values and institutions of the European civilizational space. It will be a safeguard against political regression and will help harmonize Ukraine with countries that have successfully overcome the shadow of authoritarianism. The integration process will strengthen Ukraine's commitment to democratic principles, the rule of law, and market reforms.

Ukraine has already made significant progress on its European integration path. Since the signing of the Association Agreement and Free Trade Area (FTA) with the EU in 2014, the country has implemented about 70% of European legislation, which is a significant achievement. In 2022, our country received the status of an EU candidate. With the outbreak of the war and the EU's decision to grant Ukraine full "free trade" in the form of autonomous trade preferences, the country has been operating as a full-fledged participant in the European common market for three years in a row.

Now, it is crucial to ensure political will within the country and mobilize international support to speed up the final stages of integration.

To do this, European leaders must make what is probably the most politically bold and extremely important decision in the history of the EU and ensure that Ukraine joins the EU in record time, within one to two years. Such accelerated, booster integration (let's call it Eurofasttrack) may seem utopian, but in fact there is room for maneuver. Ukraine's integration process can be implemented with certain conditions: the fulfillment of certain obligations in various areas and sectors can be postponed, but the country will become a full member of the EU at the same time.

A similar decision, albeit on a much smaller scale and, of course, under different geopolitical conditions, was once made in Brussels. Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007 after negotiations that began in 2000. Their accession lasted more than six years and took place under the so-called conditionality of membership. The path to the EU was accompanied by a number of restrictions: in particular, both countries were not included in the Schengen area due to failure to meet all the criteria for border security and the fight against corruption, and will become full members only on January 1, 2025.

Despite these restrictions, Bulgaria and Romania became full members of the EU, maintaining their affiliation with the European orbit. This gave them the opportunity to receive significant financial support, access to the European single market, and integration into the Union's political processes. An analysis of the political development of these countries after their accession to the EU shows that pro-European parties have mostly held power. In Bulgaria, the main political players remained the forces that supported EU integration, although pro-Russian parties periodically gained significant voter support. In Romania, most parliamentary elections were won by pro- European forces that promoted a reformist course and strengthened ties with the EU.

Thus, EU membership has become a stabilizing factor for both countries, even in the face of internal political challenges, and has helped them remain part of a larger Europe.

Over the past few months, I have held dozens of meetings with European politicians and officials and have not encountered any significant resistance to the idea of a Eurofasttrack. On the contrary, all parties realize that the foundation is being laid now that can ensure Ukraine's stability under a future peace agreement. This realization sends a strong signal to the international community that support for Ukraine should remain an unquestionable priority.

During my conversation two weeks ago with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the annual meeting of the heads of European employers' organizations Business Europe, which is overseen by the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, I emphasized that the European Union and its key leaders - France, Germany, Italy and Poland - should not repeat t h e mistake I believe they made in 2011-2013.

In 2011, the EU and Ukraine agreed on the text of the Association Agreement. However, Brussels postponed its signing for a year and a half, setting a political condition for then-President Viktor Yanukovych to release opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko from prison. As a result, he never released her, and when the EU was ready to sign the agreement at the Vilnius summit in November 2013, Russia used this pause to exert economic and political pressure on Ukraine and outplayed the Old Europe. We remember well what happened next.

Of course, it is not entirely correct to directly compare that situation with today's. However, the lessons of 2013 clearly demonstrate how even a few months' delay can have a decisive impact on the course of events. This emphasizes the need for Ukraine's Western allies to act decisively, strategically, and without delay. It is crucial not to fall into endlessly dragging out the negotiation process for years and flirting with the electorate. Some countries, such as Poland or France, may make additional demands or insist on preferences, for example in the agricultural sector, putting the interests of their farmers on the same level as the success of Ukraine's European integration.

However, with all due respect to European farmers, this is not just a matter of national interests of individual countries, but one of the key geopolitical challenges of our time, on the resolution of which the stability of the entire continent depends. Western partners must realize that Ukraine's rapid and successful integration into the EU is a strategically important step to ensure Europe's long-term security and prosperity.

The Eurofast track is not just a political choice, but a strategic necessity. For Ukrainians, it symbolizes hope and a sense of justice for the sacrifices made since the Revolution of Dignity. It will be the logical conclusion of a long struggle for the European dream, which has always been much bigger than the aspiration for NATO membership.

For Europe and the United States, this is a unique chance to anchor Ukraine in the Western democratic space, significantly reduce the risk of future conflicts, and ensure long-term stability in Eastern Europe. In addition, it will help to avoid an ideological reversal like the one currently observed in Georgia and even partially in Moldova. The Eurofast track is not only about Ukraine, it is about strengthening the entire European project.

The United States, under the leadership of the new administration, has a unique opportunity to become a key driver of Ukraine's successful integration into the EU. Using its influence and strong ties with European states that may create barriers to the Eurofasttrack, such as Hungary, Slovakia, and even Poland, Washington can help remove bureaucratic and political obstacles that threaten to delay this important process. In addition, the U.S. position in negotiations with the Kremlin will play a crucial role in reducing Russia's potential resistance to Ukraine's integration into the EU.

Moreover, Ukraine's accession to the EU could become a stabilizing factor in relations with Russia. Unlike NATO enlargement, which Moscow sees as an existential threat, Ukraine's integration into the EU is much less opposed.

This is further confirmed by the absence of categorical objections to Ukraine's accession to the EU in Russian rhetoric. Even before the outbreak of the war, and during the fighting, the Kremlin avoided openly stating that Ukraine's European integration was unacceptable and commented on European integration only in the context of NATO enlargement. This suggests that Ukraine's accession to the EU is not as critical for Russia as its military and strategic advantage in the region.

To realize this vision, Ukraine's booster integration into the EU should become a central element of the foreign policy of its key allies, the United States and the United Kingdom. This requires a multifaceted approach that includes diplomatic support, economic assistance, and strategic communication. It is important to clearly communicate a convincing narrative about the benefits of Ukraine's membership in the EU to both Ukrainian society and the international community. This integration should be presented not only as an economic or political goal, but as a fundamental element of peace, stability and security in the region.

There is no time for delay. Ukraine should resolutely put the issue of the Eurofast track on the agenda of the international community, in particular at the upcoming EU summit in Brussels on December 19. This issue should be presented as a key security factor and a determining factor for the country's future. European integration should be perceived not only as a strategic aspiration, but as an urgent necessity that will ensure Ukraine's stability and development and will be an important step towards strengthening the security and unity of the whole of Europe.