Political accession first: A new pact for Ukraine to join the EU
European leaders should adopt a new approach—the PACT model—for Ukraine’s future accession to the EU. This model will help them facilitate the peace process while also giving confidence to their electorates
Ukraine’s accession to the EU is a central component of negotiations that are—fitfully—under way to bring Russia’s war on the co...
The strongest version of this narrative presents the PACT model as a pragmatic solution to a high-stakes dilemma: balancing Ukraine’s urgent need for security guarantees with EU member states’ domestic political constraints. It credibly argues that traditional accession processes are ill-suited for wartime realities while addressing concerns about democratic backsliding through reversible mechanisms. The proposal also acknowledges the EU’s strategic interest in Ukraine’s military and economic co...