Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have sent a strong signal of support to Ukraine, stressing that the country’s future lies in the European Union. In a vote on Tuesday,
418 MEPs backed a report urging faster progress on Ukraine’s EU accession, while 135 voted against and 41 abstained.
At the heart of the message: Ukraine must continue pressing ahead with reforms, while the EU should do everything possible to accelerate the membership process.
A clear commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty
MEPs reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. They underlined that any eventual peace deal must reflect the will of the Ukrainian people—not be dictated by outside powers.
Push for Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Measures
Ukraine has already made extraordinary efforts to strengthen its democracy, but MEPs stressed the need to keep going. Judicial and anti-corruption reforms, transparent selection processes for key institutions, and stronger rule-of-law measures remain priorities. These reforms are not just boxes to tick for EU accession—they are also vital for rebuilding trust in Ukraine’s economy and ensuring successful post-war reconstruction.
Parliament urged the European Commission to move faster by opening negotiation clusters, the structured steps of accession talks, as soon as Ukraine meets reform milestones.
The EU as Ukraine’s strategic ally
The report also sounded the alarm over shifting U.S. policy under President Donald Trump, particularly his recent meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. MEPs highlighted the stark contrast between that meeting and Russia’s escalating attacks on Ukraine. They called on Trump to follow through on his pledge to impose tougher economic sanctions on Russia and its backers.
Regardless of Washington’s stance, MEPs insisted the EU must remain Ukraine’s key strategic ally. This means strengthening military support, providing security guarantees, and ensuring Ukraine’s defence industry can withstand Russia’s aggression.
A European future for Ukraine
Rapporteur Michael Gahler (EPP, Germany) summed up the mood after the vote:
“With solid reforms, Ukraine can reach the goal of joining the European Union where it belongs. Strengthening democratic institutions is and will remain essential, as is pushing ahead with judicial and anti-corruption reforms, reinforcing local and regional authorities and maintaining parliamentary pluralism. We also admire the role Ukrainian civil society is playing in the reform process. As Parliament, we want to send a clear signal that Ukraine belongs in the European family and that we will do everything so that it takes its rightful place as soon as possible”.
Background
This is the first enlargement report on Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in 2022, and accession negotiations are now underway. Each year, the European Parliament issues these reports in response to the European Commission’s assessments of candidate and potential candidate countries, helping shape the EU’s official stance. Photo by President.gov.ua, Wikimedia commons.