Zelensky pushes for fast-track EU membership, says Ukraine wants war ended this year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday urged European Union leaders to accelerate Ukraine’s path to EU membership, arguing that Kyiv’s defense against Russia is shaping the future security of Europe.

Addressing an EU summit, Zelensky said Ukraine deserved a fast-track accession process because it had paid a heavy price for its freedom and European aspirations. He described Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression as a defining moment for the continent’s future.

“The future of Europe — free, united and at peace — is being decided through our defense,” Zelensky told EU leaders, according to excerpts of his speech posted on X.

The Ukrainian leader also reiterated his goal of ending the war with Russia before the end of 2026, while acknowledging that continued military pressure on Moscow would be necessary. He appealed to European partners to help Ukraine prepare for another difficult winter by supplying air-defense missiles, fuel and critical energy equipment.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian drones struck targets deep inside Russia, including an oil refinery in Moscow, in one of Kyiv’s latest long-range attacks. Zelensky highlighted the strikes during meetings with US President Donald Trump and other G7 leaders in France, presenting them as evidence of Ukraine’s growing military capabilities.

Despite support from many EU members, Zelensky acknowledged resistance to an accelerated membership process. Hungary successfully pushed to remove language supporting fast-tracked Ukrainian accession from the European Council’s final summit statement.

“The most important step could be a fast-track path for Ukraine to join the EU, though I know not everyone supports this,” Zelensky said.

EU ambassadors last week agreed to advance accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, opening discussions on the first of six negotiating clusters designed to align their laws and policies with EU standards. The European Council welcomed the start of talks and expressed hope that additional negotiating chapters would be opened based on merit.

Zelensky also called for the release of €6 billion from the European Peace Facility and urged Europe to ensure long-term financing for Ukraine’s military. He stressed that sanctions on Russia must remain comprehensive and free of loopholes.

“Of course, we want to end this war before winter through diplomacy and pressure on Russia,” Zelensky said in remarks posted on Telegram. “But we understand who we are dealing with. Putin is war.”

Warning that Russia could intensify missile and drone attacks, Zelensky urged Ukrainians to continue using bomb shelters and remain vigilant. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, meanwhile, said Moscow would continue carrying out “massive coordinated strikes” against Ukraine on a regular basis.

The drone strike on Moscow’s refinery was the second such attack this week and came after Kyiv accused Russia of damaging a nearly 1,000-year-old monastery in Ukraine, an allegation Moscow denies.