Georgian Parliament Committee Chair: Ukraine seeks shortcut to EU membership, but none exists

Levan Makhashvili, the chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European integration committee, on Friday said that the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and the European Union over membership timelines expose what he described as the “false narrative” surrounding Ukraine’s potential accession.

The comments come in response to a recent report by the Financial Times, which detailed intensifying tensions between Ukraine and the EU. According to the publication, Kyiv is increasingly frustrated with the pace of integration, while EU leaders insist on a gradual, decade-long process tied to stringent reforms.

In his remarks, Makhashvili noted that EU member states do not want to admit Ukraine into the Union, yet they also do not want to lose it.

“Ukraine is trying to find a shortcut to EU membership. However, everything is clear - Years of observation have shown that there are no shortcuts to joining the European Union. Member states firmly defend their own interests and, of course, do not want to introduce a competitor like Ukraine into this market. At the same time, they do not want to lose Ukraine, so they use vague promises to keep Ukrainians under illusion and prevent the country from seeking alternative options”, he said.