What can the European Union really do to make a difference in the Ukraine War? Well, despite being left out of the negotiation between Washington and Moscow, Brussels is trying to rebuild its role in the talks. And, in a way, it’s trying to bring Ukraine back into the spotlight, as the country is slowly becoming a secondary actor in the conflict.
The Ukrainian President, Volodimir Zelenski, recently suggested creating a “European Army” – an idea that’s been floating around since the creation of the European Economic Community. According to Zelenski, this would be a solution to prevent other countries from deciding Ukraine’s fate. But, let’s be real, what can Brussels actually do in practice? On one hand, it can keep sending strong messages in response to attacks from the likes of US Vice President JD Vance, but if it doesn’t back up those words with actions, it’s just empty threats. And, honestly, verbal threats don’t really work with Trump, and might even have the opposite effect.
A Potential Solution
One thing that Brussels can do is speed up the process of annexing Ukraine to the EU. This is something that, in theory, the White House can’t stop, unlike Ukraine’s potential incorporation into NATO, which seems to be further away than ever. The European extension commissioner, Marta Kos, said that she’s working “at full speed” with her team to make this happen, as Ukraine’s membership in the EU is the “best” guarantee of security for the country and Europe. As Kos tweeted, “My team and I are working at full speed in the process of adhesion of Ukraine,” and that “gradual integration based on merit and the enormous energy of the Ukrainian part are the basis of the accelerated path of adhesion to the EU.”
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the president of the European Council, António Costa, also expressed their desire to “accelerate” Ukraine’s accession process to the EU. In a meeting with Zelenski, they guaranteed Ukraine the EU’s continuous and stable support to provide a “strong” position in negotiations for a “fair, global and lasting” peace. So, it seems like the EU is trying to take a more proactive role in the conflict, but only time will tell if it’ll be enough to make a real difference.