Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
He suggests that Ukraine’s accession could fuel what he calls the EU’s internal problems.
As the European Union discusses the possibility of Ukraine joining the bloc in the future, the Kremlin is watching the discussions closely.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has even suggested that EU membership for Ukraine could be a good thing — for Russia.
The reason, he argues, is that Ukraine’s accession could cause the union to collapse.
Serious problems ahead
According to the news agency TASS, Lavrov said that allowing Ukraine into the bloc could backfire spectacularly.
In fact, he claimed it might cause the entire union to “simply fall apart,” highlighting what he calls the EU’s internal problems.
Lavrov believes the EU is shifting away from its economic roots. Instead, he argues, European leaders are trying to build a military bloc designed specifically to counter Russia.
This change is partly driven by Washington, as Donald Trump’s cool attitude toward European security commitments has forced the continent to rethink its strategy.
Different factions are now scrambling to develop new plans. According to Lavrov, Britain is reportedly pushing for a separate military alliance that includes London, Kyiv, and what Lavrov calls the most anti-Russian governments in Europe.
While these proposals are still only being discussed, the Kremlin clearly sees them as a growing threat.
It is unclear what plans Lavrov is referring to, but in April, the UK unveiled plans for a new maritime force with nine European allies meant to “complement” NATO.
The 2030 plan
Ukraine is officially undergoing European Union accession negotiations and opened its first negotiating cluster on June 15, 2026.
European Union officials and EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová consider 2030 a highly realistic target date for Ukraine’s full accession to the bloc.
However, under Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, the accession of a new member state requires unanimous approval from all existing member states, and countries such as Slovakia have threatened to block progress because of bilateral disputes with Ukraine.
