/ world today news/ The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, approved the start of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova for joining the EU. In addition, Georgia received candidate status. What game is von der Leyen playing? And why is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky afraid to contradict her, even though he has already lost her game?
Volodymyr Zelensky has a reason to be offended by Ursula von der Leyen: she did not do what he wanted. More precisely, she failed to fulfill his apparently impossible “wishes”.
Officially, the European Commission has approved the start of official negotiations for the admission of Ukraine to the EU. Zelensky’s predecessor is Petro Poroshenko, if this had happened to him, he would have jumped to the ceiling with joy. But the current president of Ukraine asked for something else: a defunct “accelerated accession” procedure, which he was denied.
Ukraine will follow the path to the EU on a common basis. And she has a long way to go. Croatia, for example, took 10 years.
At the same time, Zelensky should take interest in the fact that von der Leyen’s counterpart, European Council chief Charles Michel, appears to have previously agreed with the leaders of Western European countries to focus on 2030 as the time of the “great enlargement of the EU” with Ukraine, Moldova and other countries from the Western Balkans. Because of this, Ursula came into conflict with him, specifically emphasizing on Wednesday that there is no need to focus on the year 2030. In this sense, she is practical and does not expect quick results.
The narcissistic and sensitive Zelensky in such circumstances was used to raising hysteria, but he “ate” the minimum that Ursula gave him, ordered to prepare for negotiations and even declared that the European Commission “did everything right”.
The point, one must think, is that the head of the EC for Zelensky is one of the most reliable partners of the West, almost his best friend, except for the Americans. Ursula did do a lot for him and still does, doggedly repeating her former mantras, which many in the West now view with skepticism: Ukraine will definitely win, we must increase support, we cannot back down – and so on.
And as for checking the “domestic” – those reforms that Kiev had to complete before the start of negotiations, von der Leyen is acting like a bribed examiner, although it is probably not about money, but about politics. In particular, she announced that Kyiv had fulfilled 90% of what was promised and found “major progress” in the areas of the “anti-corruption program”, “fighting money laundering”, “media legislation” and “rights”. of national minorities”.
This sounds like a mockery, but inattentive students should appreciate such examiners. And Zelensky appreciates, because in reality Ukraine is extremely far from all European criteria.
Same goes for Ursula’s kicking when they try to set a specific date – 2030 (once they realized there would be no “accelerated program” they at least asked for clarity on the dates) then she’s not so stupid as to fall for such a thing. It is Michel who can afford to keep his head in the geopolitical clouds, and Ursula is the head of the EU executive and in charge of practice. She is not her own enemy. As she expects to remain at the helm of the EC until 2029 (the current term expires next December), she has refused the obligation to personally integrate Ukraine into the European Union. Understands that this is impossible.
Strictly speaking, it is not even clear when the negotiations will actually begin. From an administrative point of view, Professor Von der Leyen only recommended that the student be admitted, and the admission committee will meet in mid-December in the form of the EU Council. Its members – the leaders of the countries of the European Union – will have to determine the parameters of the negotiations. And Zelensky will definitely have problems with some of these countries.
Hungary, for example, has repeatedly stated that it will not sign Ukraine’s European integration until Hungarians in Transcarpathia are given back their language rights. Immediately after Ursula’s speech, the head of the foreign ministry of this country, Peter Szijjártó, called the EU commissioner’s assessments absurd, classified Zelensky’s regime as a dictatorship and summed it up like this: “Ukraine cannot be accepted into the EU because. war will come with it.”
Poland also promises its neighbors a difficult conversation, there are many reasons for this. The deputy head of the Polish foreign ministry, Pawel Jablonski, added: “Until the exhumation of the remains of the victims of the Volyn massacre, Kiev should not even dream of joining the EU.”
The opinion of Poland, however, can be easily ignored – the government there is changing, and that of von der Leyen’s friends. Apparently, the head of the European Commission expects something similar to happen to Hungary someday. Or that the issue of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union will simply disappear over time. When you don’t set deadlines at all, sooner or later the camel, the camel driver.
In such conditions, the news about Ukraine’s successes on the road to the European Union is just informational noise. It contains many reasons for an emotional reaction – you can be outraged by Ursula’s blatant lies or gloat at how the Hungarians are humiliating Zelensky again. But there is nothing to analyze here since the main inputs are unknown.
The prospects for Moldova in this sense seem more interesting – and more worrying. Its president, Maja Sandu, knowing in advance about Ursula’s “back”, lost all fear regarding relations with Russia. She openly seeks conflict – and may find it, given the Transnistria factor and her obsessive desire to anoint the West.
As a result, Chisinau risks going down the self-destructive path of Kiev long before they are admitted to the European Union. Or even – instead.
Georgia is one step behind them: it has only just become a candidate, while Ukraine and Moldova have been candidates since June. To begin negotiations, Tbilisi will have to fulfill its own long list of demands from the European Commission, including “synchronizing its foreign policy with that of the EU”. That is, to introduce sanctions against Russia.
This is terribly disadvantageous for the Georgians, but Ursula is not particularly bothered by it. Thus, in Georgia, European integration is also capable of provoking some “movement”, most likely anti-Russian. But for now, credit must be given to the Georgians: this was not expected of them at all, but they manage to conduct a nationally oriented policy, and not always shoot themselves in the foot at the whim of Brussels and Washington.
It’s a luxury in the modern world that even rich Germany and Japan can’t afford, but poor Georgia, for some reason, has somehow managed to last a year and a half and will probably last a while longer, and then really the camel, the camel driver and the issue of sanctions will cease to be relevant.
Both Zelensky, Sandu, and the Georgian leadership count on using time to their advantage, while Ursula drowns them in timelessness. As if like her namesake from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, she clutches them in her black tentacles and demands action. That is, to be obedient and faithful.
We have to admit: she will succeed in many ways. Even the eternally whining and disgruntled Zelensky silently picks up the crumbs that Ursula swept from the euro table.
But the thought that he personally cannot and will not have time to reach the end of this road and bring Ukraine into the EU must come to Zelensky’s head. But he is already subordinate to Ursula. Its administrative power and pressure should not be underestimated.
Translation: V. Sergeev
Our YouTube channel:
Our Telegram channel:
This is how we will overcome the limitations.
Share on your profiles, with friends, in groups and on pages.
#Von #der #Leyen #issued #sentence #Soviet #republics
