Officials aim to overcome resistance from key Western European nations ahead of summit.

Ukraine is ramping up diplomatic efforts to expedite its European Union membership process, amid lingering reservations from some Western European countries. Since Russia’s invasion, high-ranking EU officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have voiced support for granting Ukraine candidate status as a step toward EU accession.

Despite these endorsements, doubts persist in Berlin, Paris, and other capitals about whether fast-tracking Ukraine’s application is feasible. The issue is set to be a focal point of discussions at an EU leaders’ summit later this month, where a decision on Ukraine’s candidate status is anticipated.

“It will be very hard to say no, but it will be even harder to say yes,” commented a European diplomat involved in the ongoing talks, reflecting the challenging dynamics of balancing political urgency with procedural norms.