When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, many said it was not a question of if but when Ukraine would fall.
More than three years into the war Ukraine’s Independence Day - celebrated on 24 August - is once again a remarkable milestone for the country and another demonstration of its willingness and readiness to fight for its independence.
With the diplomatic process aimed at putting an end to Russia’s war at full speed, Europe rallied behind Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting with Donald Trump on Monday in an “exceptional format”, the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, said in an interview with Euronews.
“The visit and this composition of the European delegation was an exceptional format of how European Union demonstrated its unity on one hand, but also support to Ukraine in this critical moment,” he said, pointing to the fact that the meting took place during the August holiday period.
“All of them had to interrupt their vacations and to go to Washington physically and what is not less important is that the president of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen took an effort to coordinate this visit.”
The next step of the diplomatic process aimed at putting an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine is set to be a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. It is not clear if Donald Trump would be present at the first meeting or would rather join the two presidents after their bilateral talks.
After the Monday visit to the White House, it is unclear if European leaders could also be present at the negotiating table at some stage.
Chentsov told Euonews that the current process is becoming “quite dynamic” and he hopes that it will not be too long before the next meeting is organised.
“We should not omit any other scenarios, including participation of the European side, but what is important that the EU and Europe in general, because we are talking also about Great Britain, is present.”
He is convinced that “the position of the European Union definitely is taken into account by Ukraine for sure and also by the United States. So this is the most important thing.”
Can the US help Ukraine join the EU?
Welcoming Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels before their departure to Washington, the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU continues “to support Ukraine's path to its membership in the European Union. This is itself also a security guarantee for Ukraine.”
Vsevolod Chentsov says it is also a security guarantee for Europe, which is reinforcing the EU already now, even while Ukraine is still a candidate.
“The new programme, which is called SAFE (Security Action for Europe) is open for Ukraine, which means that helping Ukraine to defend themselves, helping Ukraine use its potential, it's military-industrial complex, its modern mil-tech will help definitely Ukraine, but also in the future will help Europe to defend itself.”
“We stress on this necessity to move ahead with accession process, do whatever is possible to unlock this stalemate, also to solve all bilateral issues with any member states which could arise,” Chentsov said.
“It's normal that member states try to solve bilateral issues and use the enlargement process as a leverage. We are prepared to talk, we are prepared to work and we are doing that. But we do not want to lose time. And if we have any outstanding issues related to national minorities or trade or sectoral cooperation, we are going to tackle those issues within the relevant clusters.”
Hungary has been consistently opposed to Ukraine's EU membership with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's veto on accession dating back to July 2024, when Hungary took over the six-month presidency of the EU Council.
But even after Hungary’s stint heading the Council was over, Budapest has repeatedly vetoed any steps forward for Kyiv’s path towards full EU membership.
Bloomberg reported this week that an unexpected push to break this deadlock might come from Washington.
Donald Trump allegedly called Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Monday to win his support for Ukraine to join the bloc.
Vsevolod Chentsov says Kyiv is ready for next steps in the EU accession process and welcomes any help along the path, including from outside of the European Union.
“If the United States or other countries outside the European Union are ready to help, to use their political clout, to also use their personal contacts, we welcome this support," he said.
“It is important to consider this issue as an element of the peace process. And that's why if Donald Trump , who is leading this peace process, is involved in fixing this issue it is logical.“
