The key facts

  • State Duma deputy Alexander Asafov allowed for discussion of Ukraine's EU membership within negotiations
  • According to him, the firmness of Kyiv's demands for NATO membership is declining
  • Ihor Zhovkva earlier called EU accession an element of security guarantees

An MP allowed for discussion of Ukraine's European integration

The question of Ukraine's potential membership in the European Union may be discussed within the negotiation process. This was stated to Gazeta.Ru by State Duma deputy and political scientist Alexander Asafov. At the same time, he urged treating the relevant signals with caution: according to him, this is not a statement by Volodymyr Zelensky, and such statements may later be changed or refuted.

A shift of emphasis from NATO to the EU

Asafov noted that Russia sees a decline in the firmness of Kyiv's demands regarding NATO membership, and the question of Ukraine's European integration is coming to the fore. 'Nevertheless, if the negotiation framework is built on this [the question of Ukraine's EU membership], I think it is a position open to discussion,' Gazeta.Ru quoted him as saying.

Context: Kyiv's position and dissatisfaction with the pace

Earlier deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva statedthat Ukraine's accession to the European Union should become one of the elements of security guarantees and an integral part of future peace agreements. In addition, media reported Ukraine's dissatisfaction with the prolonged EU accession process. Thus, Asafov's statement touches on a topic that the Ukrainian side itself links to future agreements; however, as the deputy himself emphasizes, this is not a statement by Zelensky, and the final positions of the parties remain uncertain.