Long-reads

Why Ukraine needs Zelenskyy to travel to Gdańsk despite the Polish-Ukrainian crisis
Poland’s political landscape is saturated with anti-Ukrainian narratives and xenophobia. But President Zelenskyy must travel to Poland this week.
Polluting will become more expensive: How Ukraine can cope with EU carbon emissions pricing
If Ukraine ultimately wants to join the European Union, it will have to integrate into the EU’s Emissions Trading System.
A "European" reform in name only: How EU concessions underme the chance to clean up the Supreme Court
If such a reform is accepted as fulfilling Ukraine's commitments and all related funding is disbursed, it will send a clear message to the authorities: violations of obligations carry no consequences and will ultimately be forgiven.
Outpacing Albania. How Ukraine should meet most critical benchmarks in EU accession negotiations
We cannot afford the Montenegro scenario: a decade of slow movement, inconsistency and loss of political momentum.
Security over solidarity: how the war is reshaping French views of Ukraine
Public opinion in France regarding support for Ukraine has changed significantly since 2022. In particular, only 47% of respondents approve of European countries supplying weapons to Kyiv.
From Lithuania to Germany: who else is proposing a new path to EU for Ukraine and what lies behind it
In a system built on consensus rather than majority voting, having a seat at the table can matter as much as having a vote. Candidate countries with speaking rights can shape EU decisions and legislation.
Six ways Merz’s "EU associate membership" idea could benefit Ukraine: a view from Brussels
Klaus Welle does not use the term "associate membership", which has provoked resistance in Ukraine. However, he considers many elements of Merz's proposal beneficial for Ukraine.
Ukraine has rejected "associate membership". What should the EU offer instead?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a letter to the EU, has been highly critical of proposals by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding "associate membership" for Ukraine, calling them half-measures.
Anti-corruption rollback? Ukraine revises its five-year strategy, cutting some EU commitments
This is about the updated Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2026-2030, which Ukraine is required to adopt as one of its EU accession commitments.
No guarantees, no rights: why Ukraine should reject Merz’s EU "associate membership" plan
There are several EU countries that would be happy for Ukraine to remain stuck in the EU’s waiting room without voting rights and without access to European funds.
Who is the new Hungary? Why Ukraine's EU accession talks are still stalling and what comes next
Some say that the opening of the negotiating clusters could be delayed until autumn. So which timeline is realistic, and when can Ukraine expect the EU to formally open accession negotiations?
Neither fast nor endless: how EU should rethink Ukraine's accession process
The European Union has to adapt the philosophy of its enlargement policy to today's geopolitical and economic changes in the world, especially when it comes to Ukraine.
EU money instead of Russian assets: why €90 billion decision is a missed opportunity for Europe
Yet, the EU has overlooked its most powerful leverage: Russia's immobilized sovereign assets. The Reparation Loan framework remains not only a pragmatic option, but also a fair one.
Will Péter Magyar be another Orbán? Interpreting Hungary's new stance on Ukraine
The fact that Péter Magyar made a statement on resetting Ukrainian-Hungarian relations after meeting with the mayor of Berehove is an extremely positive signal. Oddly enough, the list of his demands gives further cause for optimism.
Less US, more France: Can Paris become the center of a "new NATO" in Europe?
Paris believes that a US withdrawal from Europe is no longer a distant prospect and would not mind taking over its role. But does it have the capacity to do so?
Since Orbán has gone, Ukraine’s EU accession is entering a new phase – and a new risk
EU integration has always created winners and losers. Integration creates visible opportunities, but it risks becoming a source of tension...
Why Orbán lost: what vulnerability of autocracies the elections in Hungary revealed
Orbán seemed to have solved the central dilemma of authoritarianism: how to win elections while simultaneously hollowing out liberal democracy.
EU trust at 9%: reform delays threaten Ukraine's path to EU membership
This article presents the initial results of the monitoring known as Membership Check… European partners’ confidence in the foundations of Ukraine’s progress towards EU membership is at stake…