Zelenskyy Pushes for Ukraine’s EU Membership by 2027 in Talks With Austrian Chancellor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker to discuss Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership by 2027 and Austria’s continued support for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Zelenskyy emphasized that EU membership represents a strategic security guarantee not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe as a whole.

“The collective strength of Europe is also possible thanks to Ukraine’s contributions in security, technology, and the economy,” Zelenskyy said, noting that Kyiv is seeking a specific accession timeline and expects partner nations to support its position.

The two leaders also addressed the ongoing challenges facing Ukraine’s energy system following repeated Russian strikes on critical infrastructure.

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Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Austria’s recent financial aid aimed at stabilizing the country’s power sector and discussed additional mechanisms for energy support. Austria allocated new funding for Ukrainian energy needs in the week preceding the call.

The Ukrainian President also informed Stocker about recent trilateral talks held in the United Arab Emirates between Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations. The discussions focused on security issues, including military aspects and broader guarantees for Ukraine’s future.

The EU formally granted Ukraine candidate status in 2022. While the accession process involves multiple stages, Ukrainian officials have increasingly called for a clear and expedited path toward membership, citing Ukraine’s strategic role in the European security architecture.

Earlier in January, the European Union discussed a potential phased or “membership‑lite” accession model for Ukraine that would allow Kyiv to join the bloc with limited voting rights in the initial stage, while gradually gaining access to the single market and EU funding.

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