The EU Should Fast-Track Ukraine's Membership for Strategic and Security Benefits
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/mujtaba-rahman. "The EU should fast-track Ukraine’s membership of the club – it has the most to gain | Mujtaba Rahman | The Guardian." June 3, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The author argues that the EU should rush Ukraine into membership by 2030 because it's crucial for any peace deal with Russia and would make both Ukraine and the EU stronger militarily and economically. While there are real challenges like cost and institutional issues, the EU has solved similar problems before and the benefits outweigh the risks.
Conclusion
The EU should accelerate Ukraine's membership process, targeting admission closer to 2030 rather than 2040, despite significant challenges
Premises
- Ukraine's EU membership is essential for any peace deal with Russia to be domestically acceptable to Ukrainians
- EU membership would provide Ukraine with important security guarantees through Article 42.7 mutual defense clause, complicating Russian military planning
- Ukraine would transform the EU into a military and agricultural superpower with its large, combat-experienced army and agricultural capacity
- EU membership would drive anti-corruption reforms and rule of law improvements in Ukraine through membership obligations
- The EU needs leverage vis-à-vis the US and a seat at the negotiating table for any Ukraine-Russia peace agreement
- Creative solutions like 'reversed membership' or safeguards can address practical challenges of rapid admission
- The alternative of prolonged war is more costly than the challenges of fast-track membership
Assumptions
- A Ukraine-Russia peace deal will eventually be necessary and achievable
- Ukrainian public support for any peace deal depends heavily on EU membership prospects
- The EU can find creative institutional solutions to overcome membership obstacles, as it has in past crises
- Ukraine's military capabilities would benefit rather than burden the EU
- EU membership obligations effectively drive institutional reforms in candidate countries