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Will Ukraine join the European Union by 2024?

President Zelenskyy of Ukraine formally applied to join the European Union on Monday, February 28, 2022.

"We ask the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession via a new special procedure,” he said, speaking on his Telegram channel as fighting with Russian troops continued across the country. “Our goal is to be together with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be on an equal footing. I’m sure it’s fair. I’m sure it’s possible.”

This application came one day after the European Commission President proclaimed that Ukraine belonged in the European Union. However, to admit a country into the EU requires an unanimous vote by the 27 countries already within the Union, something that may be difficult to complete as members worry about the expansion of the bloc.

Despite contrasting opinions, a number of other Eastern European countries are pushing for the expedited admission of Ukraine to the EU.

"The presidents of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia called on the EU to give Ukraine the “highest political support” and “enable the EU institutions to conduct steps to immediately grant Ukraine … EU candidate country status and open the process of negotiations.” In an interview with POLITICO on Sunday, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Eduard Heger argued that Ukraine should be granted a “special track” toward the EU."