Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned against raising unrealistic expectations of Ukraine’s speedy accession to the European Union.
“I think, for the given reasons, Ukraine needs the prospect of accession, but I’m very upset about the imprudence of many politicians, also acting in the West, who are promising Ukraine a quick accession, I don’t see that,” Juncker said in the podcast “Worth Exchange ” of the newspaper “Luxemburger Wort”.
Juncker said it was not a “viable way” to simply accept a country that is at war and “cannot fully develop its will to reform” for overriding political reasons. “But after recent events, I think it’s highly likely that Ukraine will join the European Union in the long term.”
With a view to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Juncker was concerned. He himself has always sought dialogue with Russia, as well as with China. Even now he is still of the opinion “that we have to keep in touch with Russia and China and that we have to signal a willingness to talk.” The fact is, however, that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown “no will” for “real peace talks,” Juncker said.
Juncker warned that there should be no dictated peace in Ukraine. “Wrong is wrong.” Apart from that, peace is not the highest value that should be defended, said Juncker. “Freedom is a higher value.”
