NATO, EU doors shut for Ukraine as Europe floats new Defence Union

European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius has suggested the creation of a European Defence Union to strengthen military integration between Ukraine and European partners, as Kyiv’s prospects for joining NATO and the European Union remain uncertain in the near term.

Speaking on the need for a more immediate framework, Kubilius said that NATO membership is currently not available to Ukraine, while full EU accession is a lengthy and complex process that cannot deliver rapid defence integration, Caliber.Az reports per Ukrainian media.

He argued that a dedicated European Defence Union would offer a more effective solution, enabling closer coordination of defence capabilities between EU member states and partners such as Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Norway.

According to Kubilius, such an arrangement could provide Ukraine with credible security guarantees following the establishment of a just peace, while also laying the groundwork for the country’s long-term reconstruction.

He added that parallel integration into the EU’s single market, alongside participation in a European Defence Union, could form a central pillar of Europe’s strategic approach towards Ukraine in the years ahead.