Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for stronger support for the EU accession of Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans, stressing that the time has come to move forward.
“Supporting Moldova, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans on their path to EU membership is critical. We need real progress,” Zelensky said in his address at the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen.
Zelensky noted that Ukraine has completed its screening process as part of the accession talks and is ready to open negotiations on Cluster 1, which focuses on the foundations of EU accession.
Ukraine officially opened EU accession talks in June 2024, after being granted candidate status in 2022 following the start of Russia’s ongoing war against the country. Moldova was also granted candidate status at the same time, while Western Balkan states remain in different stages of the EU enlargement process.
The Ukrainian President warned that recent drone attacks in Europe show that Russia “still feels bold enough” to escalate.
“It was never only about Ukraine. Russia has always aimed to break the West – and Europe, in particular. Today, their strategy is simple: divide Europe, ignite disputes, and prevent us from finding common ground,” Zelensky emphasized.
He urged European states to do “the opposite” of what Russia expects, which is to “act together” and “act with strength.”
Zelensky also spoke about the idea of a “drone wall” along the EU’s eastern border, underlining that this is not just about one country but about the security of the entire continent.
“If the Russians dare to launch drones against Poland or violate the airspace of Northern European countries, it means it can happen anywhere,” he warned, calling for a swift and effective European response.
