Zelenskyy pushes for Ukraine’s 2027 EU accession, but von der Leyen appears cautious on date
Jakub Krupa
There was one particularly interesting line in that earlier press briefing with Zelenskyy, Costa and von der Leyen when they were discussing Ukraine’s prospects for joining the European Union.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, and EU’s von der Leyen and Costa attend press conference on fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Zelenskyy pointedly said that he was hoping for 2027, a date which he said would be “very important to us,” as he repeated his warning that “Putin cannot block our membership for decades.”
But unusually, among otherwise very positive tone on other tricky issues including the prospect of unblocking the €90bn loan for Ukraine, von der Leyen appeared to push back on that a bit.
She praises the progress on reforms as she said:
“On your question, is there a way for Ukraine to become a member of the European Union, the answer is a very clear yes, of course. They are, Ukraine, on a good way to become a member of the European Union.”
But then she added:
“I understand very well that for you, a clear date is also important. The date you set is your benchmark that you want to match.
You know that from our side dates, by themselves, are not possible. But of course, the support that you can reach your goal is absolutely clear on our side.”
Unfazed, Zelenskyy reiterated that he wants Ukraine to be on a “fast track” for the membership to prevent Putin from blocking this path in the future.
One to keep an eye on in the coming months.
Updated at 11.55 EST
Key events
2h ago
Closing summary
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Show key events only
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Closing summaryJakub Krupa
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed his push for Ukraine to join the European Union in 2027 as he was joined by several EU leaders in Kyiv to mark the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian aggression (17:54).
In an early morning address to the nation, Zelenskyy also urged US president Donald Trump to visit Kyiv and insisted his government will not betray its people in any negotiations with Russia (10:25), as she showed previously unreleased footage of his underground banker where he worked and slept in the first hours of the war.
Zelenskyy speaks from presidential bunker on fourth anniversary of Russia-Ukraine war – video
In later speeches, Zelenskyy warned that Russia’s Vladimir Putin was actively “choosing” war as he repeated his calls to put further sanctions on Russia (10:35, 10:37) and said that Ukraine hoped for peace, but needed to prepare for other scenarios (12:22).
Meanwhile, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said Ukraine needs to get “ammunition today and every day until the bloodshop stops” to fight against “Russian terror from the skies” (10:45).
Several other leaders – including UK prime minister Keir Starmer (11:00) and French president Emmanuel Macron (12:26) – also offered their public backing for Ukraine, as did the G7 group of nations (16:22).
Meanwhile,
The Kremlin said it was engaged in a broad confrontation with the west but insisted Moscow would press ahead with its war aims in Ukraine (11:19).
Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered the country’s security services to strengthen protection for senior military figures and other officials following a string of assassination attempts targeting army personnel (14:54).
Earlier, Russia’s foreign intelligence service, the SVR, has accused Britain and France of preparing to arm Kyiv with a nuclear bomb, a claim made without providing any evidence (10:00) and repeated throughout the day by further Russian officials (14:59) – despite strong denials from Kyiv (16:28) and London (18:08).
Separately, the Guardian’s central and eastern Europe correspondent Shaun Walker has answered your questions on the war and what’s likely to happen next (starting from 15:01).
How the CIA and MI6 uncovered Putin’s war plans and why many did not believe them – video
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
ShareEU-UK summit could take place in July with hopes for deal on agri-foods, emissions, youth experience
Speaking at that session with the EU lawmakers, commissioner Maroš Šefčovič also indicated that the next EU-UK summit could take place in early July, as the two sides hope to agree on reducing agri-foods barriers, the Emissions Trading Scheme, and youth experience and mobility scheme.
He praised his working relationship with the UK’s Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and said the two sides managed to make progress in their talks, including on the thorny issue of guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens resident in the UK after Brexit.
“We are not 100% satisfied, but the progress under his leadership and steer is very much welcome,” he said.
Šefčovič said the two sides were working towards a summit “which now most probably would be organised at the beginning of July,” focusing on the three big issues of agri-food barriers (sanitary and phitosanitary issues), the ETS, and youth experience.
He said that, as is often the case in post-Brexit talks, these topics have financial implications or consequences for the UK’s dynamic alignment with the EU law, but the two sides are having discussing about the extent of that coverage and what, if any sectors, could be exempt.
Šefčovič and Thomas-Symonds would be in biweekly contact to “provide the political steer” and progress the talks, he said.
Updated at 12.39 EST
US told EU it ‘stands by’ tariff deal, trade commissioner says
The EU’s trade chief said his US counterparts had told him Washington stands by a key trade deal with the bloc, following an adverse US supreme court decision on president Donald Trump’s tariffs, AFP reported.
European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič speaks to media members as he attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meeting and EU Trade Commissioner Consultation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photograph: Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters
After the court ruled Trump lacks authority to impose levies under a 1977 law, the US leader responded with fresh tariffs of 10 percent on imported goods – which Trump has vowed to hike further to 15 percent.
That raised complex questions about what the new duties mean for the EU deal clinched last year with Trump, which set tariffs at 15 percent for most EU goods, AFP noted.
“I have been in constant touch with my counterparts, and they both reassured me they stand by the deal with the European Union,” trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič told EU lawmakers.
ShareUK says ‘no truth’ in Russian claims Ukraine is seeking to acquire nuclear weapon
Britain said that Russia’s claim that Ukraine was seeking to obtain a nuclear weapon with help from Britain and France (10:00, 14:59) was unfounded, Reuters reported.
“This is a clear attempt by Vladimir Putin to distract from his heinous actions in Ukraine,” a British government spokesperson said. “There is no truth in this.”
Denmark in is in talks to host production facilities for Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyfall, which would become the second Ukrainian arms maker to produce in the Nordic country, the Danish defence ministry announced on Tuesday.
“Bringing strong Ukrainian defence companies to Denmark to work together with Danish industry will strengthen the security of both Denmark and Ukraine,” minister of defence Troels Lund Poulsen said in a statement.
According to the statement from the Ministry of Defence, Poulsen had held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart on Tuesday.
ShareZelenskyy pushes for Ukraine’s 2027 EU accession, but von der Leyen appears cautious on dateJakub Krupa
There was one particularly interesting line in that earlier press briefing with Zelenskyy, Costa and von der Leyen when they were discussing Ukraine’s prospects for joining the European Union.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, and EU’s von der Leyen and Costa attend press conference on fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Zelenskyy pointedly said that he was hoping for 2027, a date which he said would be “very important to us,” as he repeated his warning that “Putin cannot block our membership for decades.”
But unusually, among otherwise very positive tone on other tricky issues including the prospect of unblocking the €90bn loan for Ukraine, von der Leyen appeared to push back on that a bit.
She praises the progress on reforms as she said:
“On your question, is there a way for Ukraine to become a member of the European Union, the answer is a very clear yes, of course. They are, Ukraine, on a good way to become a member of the European Union.”
But then she added:
“I understand very well that for you, a clear date is also important. The date you set is your benchmark that you want to match.
You know that from our side dates, by themselves, are not possible. But of course, the support that you can reach your goal is absolutely clear on our side.”
Unfazed, Zelenskyy reiterated that he wants Ukraine to be on a “fast track” for the membership to prevent Putin from blocking this path in the future.
One to keep an eye on in the coming months.
Updated at 11.55 EST
Jakub Krupa
I am back and ready to take you through some other headlines.
Italy will send more military aid to Ukraine this year, a senior government official said on Tuesday, adding that continued support for Kyiv could help bring Russia to the negotiating table.
“We have already agreed that aid of all kinds, including military aid, will continue to be provided to Ukraine throughout the year, so there will obviously be further aid packages in 2026,” said Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a cabinet undersecretary and a close aide to prime minister Giorgia Meloni.
Speaking at a conference marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he added that continuing backing for Kyiv “could lead Russia to genuine peace negotiations within a reasonable time frame“.
Rome has so far supported Ukraine’s military effort with 12 aid packages, including air defence systems, Reuters reported.
Norway’s top diplomat on Tuesday hailed Ukraine’s survival since Russia launched its full-scale invasion four years ago, and told AFP that president Vladimir Putin had lost the war.
Moscow had hoped to take Kyiv in days when it sent troops across the border on 24 February 2022.
Four years later, “it is sensational actually that Ukraine is still there”, Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said in an interview in Geneva.
“The state works… it has institutions. It has parliament and rule of law,” he said, also pointing out that most people remain supportive of the war.
“They think it’s terrible, [but] necessary to stand up against Russia,” he said.
Slovakia’s economy ministry said Tuesday that shipments of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline that passes through Ukraine are expected to resume on Thursday.
Last week, Slovakia threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if its neighbour does not reopen the Druzhba pipeline that brings Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary.
“The latest date announced for the resumption of shipments was delayed to 26 February,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that Ukraine did not explain the delay in resuming shipments.