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Should Ukraine be given fast-track membership into the European Union?
The majority of MEPs seem to think so. Although they may not see eye to eye on the how or the exact when, most MEPs think Ukrainian EU membership would send a strong message of support to Ukrainians and one of defiance to the Kremlin.
To mark four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, this week on The Ring, we are joined by two Lithuanian MEPs: Aurelijus Veryga from the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists) group and Petras Auštrevičius from the liberal Renew Europe group.
Although from opposing political families, one conservative and the other liberal, both agree that Ukraine belongs inside the European Union. This edition asks the big question: Is enlargement a test of solidarity, a measure of Europe’s strategic power, or both?
When asked about setting a clear accession date, Veryga argues that the target should be ambitious and aims for 2030: “If we say 2027, technically, it won’t happen before 2030, but it adjusts our attempts to speed up.”
For Petras Auštrevičius, “we have pronounced many good promises towards Ukraine. We said Ukraine is a part of Europe. Now we have to deliver. Let’s start moving, the sooner the better.”
This episode of The Ring is anchored by Méabh Mc Mahon, produced by Luis Albertos and Amaia Echevarria, and edited by Vassilis Glynos.
Watch The Ring on Euronews TV or in the player above and send us your views by writing to [email protected]