Lithuanian President Suggests Ukraine Joins EU on January 1, 2030

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has called for accelerating Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, proposing January 1, 2030, as the target date for full membership.

Speaking at the “Support Ukraine” plenary session in Kyiv on February 24, Nausėda emphasized the strategic importance of Ukraine’s integration into the EU, stating that European security is directly linked to Ukraine’s security.

“The security of Europe depends on Ukraine’s security. That is why we must accelerate Ukraine’s EU accession,” he said. He urged European leaders to take decisive action to make Ukraine’s path to EU membership irreversible.

According to Nausėda, the opening of the first cluster of accession negotiations could take place within weeks. “Let us make Ukraine’s path to the EU irreversible,” he added. He called on European policymakers to demonstrate leadership and ensure that Ukraine’s accession process moves forward without delays.

In addition to his remarks on EU accession, Nausėda advocated for providing Ukraine with modern weaponry, including air defense systems and long-range strike capabilities. He stressed the need to remove any restrictions on the use of this equipment and called for increased investment in Ukraine’s defense industry.

Lithuania, he noted, is committed to supplying additional military aid and expanding joint defense production with Ukraine. He highlighted Ukraine’s technological capabilities, emphasizing that closer cooperation in military manufacturing could enhance defense capacity and long-term security.

Nausėda also underscored the importance of expanding training programs for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, strengthening their combat readiness, and further integrating them with NATO forces.

Earlier, at the “Ukraine. Year 2025” forum, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada  Ruslan Stefanchuk highlighted Ukraine’s legislative progress in its EU accession efforts. He emphasized the country’s focus on countering Russian aggression and aligning laws with European standards. Stefanchuk noted that, for the first time in EU enlargement history, Ukraine’s parliament is directly involved in negotiations, streamlining the process.

He also underscored Ukraine’s strengthened ties with the EU and the U.S., citing last year’s joint parliamentary appeal that helped secure international aid.