EU Summit Starts As Leaders Try To Soften Kyiv's Accession Expectations

The EU-Ukraine Summit is currently underway in Kyiv, with the sound of air raid sirens welcoming attendees including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Charles Michel and 16 of the 27 College of Commissioners.

• This will be the first EU summit held in an active warzone and according to the EU agenda is set to cover a number of topics: "Ukraine’s European path and the accession process, the EU’s response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Ukraine’s initiatives for just peace and accountability, cooperation on issues of reconstruction and relief and in the areas of energy and connectivity, global food security."
• EU leaders are expected to try to dampen expectations in the Zelenskyy administration of a rapid accession for Ukraine into the EU. While the symbolism of making Ukraine an accession state remains a strong political anchor for the Ukrainian gov't, there are major concerns in some EU capitals that the country has to undergo significant economic and political reforms, as well as countering endemic corruption, in order to move towards eventual accession.
• However, EU institutions are keen not to downplay accession prospects too much in order not to damage Ukrainian morale and the credibility of Zelenskyy's pro-EU gov't.