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L'Ukraine dans l'UE : une question de solidarité ou de pouvoir stratégique ?
Dans cet épisode de The Ring, présenté depuis le Parlement européen à Bruxelles, nous nous concentrons sur le parcours européen de l'Ukraine, avec les eurodéputés Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe) et Aurelijus Veryga (ECR).
LIRE L’ARTICLE : http://fr.euronews.com/2026/02/26/lukraine-dans-lue-une-question-de-solidarite-ou-de-pouvoir-strategique
Abonnez-vous à notre chaine. Euronews est disponible sur Dailymotion en 12 langues
Dans cet épisode de The Ring, présenté depuis le Parlement européen à Bruxelles, nous nous concentrons sur le parcours européen de l'Ukraine, avec les eurodéputés Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe) et Aurelijus Veryga (ECR).
LIRE L’ARTICLE : http://fr.euronews.com/2026/02/26/lukraine-dans-lue-une-question-de-solidarite-ou-de-pouvoir-strategique
Abonnez-vous à notre chaine. Euronews est disponible sur Dailymotion en 12 langues
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NewsTranscription
00:01Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:37Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
01:00Treated as a slow, technical process, is now bound up with questions of war, security and Europe's geopolitical future.
01:08Granting Ukraine candidate status in June 2022 was more than symbolic.
01:13It was a signal that the EU sees its borders and its security as intertwined.
01:19But turning that promise into membership will require sweeping reforms from Kiev, while the EU must prepare for the financial
01:27and institutional impact of absorbing a large war-scarred country.
01:32Supporters argue that enlargement bolsters fragile democracies, deters further Russian aggression and strengthens Europe's global weight.
01:40Critics warn of overstretched budgets, strained decision-making and public backlash in member states already wary of deeper integration.
01:48Has enlargement become a measure not just of solidarity with Ukraine, but of the EU's capacity to act strategically in
01:55an uncertain world?
02:00That is the question that we have for our contenders. Let's meet them.
02:06Petrus Ostrovychis, a Lithuanian MEP from the Liberal Renew Europe Group.
02:10A career diplomat, he sits on key committees including Foreign Affairs and Security and Defense at the European Parliament.
02:16Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, he advocates EU support for Kiev.
02:21As a rapporteur of the draft report on the EU enlargement strategy, Ostrovychis stated,
02:25the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing significant geopolitical shifts have prompted a new dynamism in the
02:32enlargement process.
02:33Enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity.
02:40Aurelius Verga, a Lithuanian MEP from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group.
02:44He has expressed his backing for continued EU support for Ukraine.
02:48While emphasizing the need for merit-based progress and adherence to EU standards,
02:52Verga has participated in parliamentary resolutions reaffirming the EU's steadfast support to Ukraine
02:57and recognizing the advancing reforms and fulfilling accession criteria will be key to Ukraine's future integration into the Union.
03:06So Petrus Ostrovychis and Aurelius Verga, welcome to The Ring.
03:11Hello, hello, hello.
03:12Look, the idea here is to give our viewers just a taste of what exactly goes on in the European
03:17parliaments,
03:18what you do when you debate, what you discuss.
03:20So let's get started.
03:21Petrus, should Ukraine join the European Union by 2027?
03:25I mean, I would consider it probably as a start of negotiations.
03:30How long the negotiations will take, what kind of negotiations we will have,
03:34and probably what kind of initial membership we will offer to Ukraine, it depends.
03:40It depends. What about you, sir? Should Ukraine join by 2027?
03:45Well, I agree with Petrus that the target should be ambitious one,
03:50because if you set a long-lasting target like 2030 or 2035,
03:57it means that, you know, it lowers our perception how fast we should move.
04:02So if we say 2027, most probably, technically, it will not happen,
04:07but it adjusts our attempts to speed up.
04:11And why do you think Ukraine should join the European Union?
04:15Well, look, I mean, after the full scale of Russian invasion to Ukraine,
04:21and as well as threatening European security,
04:24I think we have absolutely different political description of Europe.
04:27Ukraine is a part of Europe.
04:30To my understanding, Russia never been and is not a part of Europe.
04:34So that's why, I mean, Ukraine rejoins its family.
04:38And what benefits would Ukrainian membership bring to the European Union?
04:42Well, first of all, if we would look to today's perspective,
04:47first of all, I believe it's safety,
04:48because EU, actually now Ukraine fights for the EU safety in a way that Russia was always threatening,
05:01at least the Baltic countries, but also other EU member states like Finland or Poland.
05:09So Ukraine joining the EU, first of all, would mean the security,
05:13because now Ukraine, I would say, is the most advanced country in fighting Russia's aggression.
05:24They do have experience.
05:26So this is the security and safety issue.
05:28And then it's a huge economy.
05:31It's a huge possibility for the EU itself,
05:35with the new possibilities to expand, you know, the economical growth for the EU itself.
05:44And do all your colleagues in the ECR, the Conservatives, support your view here?
05:48I believe most of them, yes, because, you know, everybody would like to see Europe safe.
05:54ECR was always on this issue very consistent,
05:59supporting Ukraine, fighting Russia's aggression.
06:01So I believe, yes.
06:02But one thing is defence and security.
06:05Another point is, of course, the functioning of the EU institutions,
06:08taking in such a huge member.
06:10How would even this parliament function then?
06:12Well, probably EU must change as well.
06:16Look, we are not a law firm.
06:20We are not.
06:21Although, I mean, a key communitaire is fundamentally important for the European Union.
06:26We stand, I mean, on the rule of law, on principles of law and so on and so forth.
06:31But the world is changing, so we become more geopolitical.
06:35So we need, I mean, to increase, I mean, EU needs bigger power, bigger geopolitical power.
06:41So we need more partners.
06:43And probably partners like Ukraine might change the European Union as well for much better.
06:50Not just Ukraine itself will be reforming and transforming,
06:53but the European Union will receive a kind of impetus, I mean, a positive impetus for a change,
07:00politically, economically and from the security point of view.
07:03And critics are arguing that the Commission is trying to power grab a little bit of that power.
07:07What would you say to that?
07:08The world has changed a lot, not just because of war in Ukraine,
07:13but geopolitics, if we see the broader picture, is evolving very rapidly.
07:19So I believe that we are, as politicians, elected to react to the new reality and to adjust politics to
07:30the new reality.
07:31React and adjust fast.
07:33Yeah, and adjust fast and adjust in a way to reflect the new reality.
07:40So how do these adjustments look?
07:43Are we talking here about actual radical reform of the institutions before we enlarge?
07:48I believe it could go in a parallel happening at the same time,
07:55because, you know, we should not confront the two things,
07:59because my fear then it would be that, you know,
08:02some more conservative member states could use that as an argument against, you know, faster accession.
08:11So I believe we should find the balance in this way, going two ways at the same time.
08:18But that's already happening, right?
08:20I still see the European Union as a bit of sleepy giant.
08:25We have to wake up ourselves, all right?
08:27This next enlargement will be definitely different from the previous ones.
08:33I mean, all previous ones.
08:35It's a chance for you to transform itself.
08:38So that's why I would call this process of internal reforms and enlargement like a two-way street.
08:45Same time.
08:46I mean, we shouldn't waste any time given now.
08:50And I mean, transform ourselves and at the same time to enlarge.
08:54And can we afford this enlargement?
08:55I mean, there's big talks coming up in the next few years as well over the budget.
08:59I think the budget is an important issue.
09:02But again, we are more than a budget line.
09:06The budget of the European Union in the future will be different.
09:10I hope revenues side will be different.
09:13So we have to reform revenue sides of the...
09:15But will we be able to afford Ukraine, which will be a net recipient for the first couple of years?
09:18I mean, Ukraine is broke.
09:20The 90 billion euro loan is frozen this week because of politics.
09:24But as I said before, I mean, incoming enlargement will be different.
09:28I mean, listening to the Ukrainian politicians, they already kind of sent a message that we don't need much of
09:35the support for agriculture.
09:37And probably it's a good chance.
09:39I mean, probably seeing this enlargement towards Ukraine, Western Balkans, it's a chance to reform some policies lines of European
09:51Union.
09:51Do you share that optimism that this time it will be different?
09:53If this will not be different, I have a fear that we will lose, exactly.
10:02The Ukraine will not become a member.
10:04Sure.
10:04Because your question is a right to the point.
10:08Ukraine is one of the biggest, let's say, the new possible member states.
10:14And if we would follow the same logic with the cohesion, with the agricultural, most probably this will not happen.
10:24But at the same time, we should be, I would say, more flexible when we look also to other areas.
10:31And there could be also a disagreement between different political perspectives where this flexibility could happen.
10:40One is the money, another could be, I don't know, the legal systems or other things, because we understand Ukraine
10:48now is in the war.
10:50Some territories most probably will be lost at least for some period of time.
10:55So there will be a lot of questions.
10:57And many of our viewers would argue that you cannot allow a country at war into the European Union.
11:03It will change.
11:04I believe Ukraine in a final end will be a winner in this against the Russian aggression.
11:11But the war is not ending anytime soon.
11:13And Ukrainians know that.
11:14We saw that this week.
11:15We saw it on their faces.
11:16We have time.
11:17Let's be patient.
11:18Let's be prudent in this regard.
11:21Not to, you know, make any hectic decisions or conditionalities imposed.
11:27Let's take time.
11:28I mean, see, I mean, more distant future.
11:31Okay.
11:31Let me stop you there, gentlemen, as we're just getting warmed up here on The Ring.
11:39So now it's time for our viewers to get a real taste, as I said, of European Parliament chamber debates
11:44where MEPs tend to fire hard questions at each other.
11:47That means it's time for you to directly challenge each other.
11:50Mr. Virga, we can start with you.
11:52What's your first question?
11:53Okay, so first question from my side would be what considering the overall context of today's geopolitics could be considered
12:03as a victory for Ukraine?
12:07I mean, what means victory?
12:10We have pronounced many good promises towards Ukraine.
12:13We said, I mean, Ukraine is a part of Europe and so on and so forth.
12:17Now we have to deliver.
12:18We have to prove our words by deeds, by actions.
12:22So that's why we have to open accession negotiations as soon as possible, delivering in this regard towards Ukraine.
12:29And I believe everybody, I mean, in all around understand that this is a dynamic process, will be negotiations, you
12:39know, meetings, adjustments and so on and so forth.
12:41But let's start moving the sooner the better.
12:45Let's start moving the sooner the better.
12:47But if I may, the 90 billion euros is frozen, the loan.
12:50What are the other options on the table?
12:52It's a disaster.
12:53I would call it absolutely, you know, dead end.
12:58I mean, for decision making in the European Union.
13:00If I'm correct, I mean, those 24 member states which backed the 90 billion loan, they've been told that, I
13:11mean, there will be no unanimity needed, I mean, to vote on this issue.
13:14So now Orban came out just out of the blue asking for unanimity votes.
13:20I mean, what is wrong with our decision making?
13:22I mean, I believe Orban really must be in the court, I mean, for this threatening and this blackmailing operation.
13:31And unfortunately, we don't have a colleague of Viktor Orban on the show today.
13:35We did invite them, but unfortunately, they were not available.
13:37Time for you now to address your first question.
13:39All right.
13:40So, Aurelius, given your political group's political, let's say, image,
13:48which criteria, political or economic, should be most decisive deciding upon membership of Ukraine or any new member state?
14:01Well, good question.
14:03I believe they are not separable because, you know, the economic criteria always comes from some political perspectives.
14:13We do have different beliefs, the conservative, more liberal, more social beliefs, even on economic criteria.
14:21So, I believe this should be a mixture.
14:24And from my perspective, I think we should have more, let's say, tactical flexibility,
14:33understanding the needs of the countries that are reflecting more economic criteria.
14:38I mean, Poland, most probably, or Hungary.
14:42And at the same time, other countries would probably prefer mostly political criteria.
14:48So, I believe it should be a mixture.
14:50All right.
14:51Would you agree with that?
14:52I would probably start from political criteria as a starting point.
14:57I mean, economic criteria, of course.
14:58I mean, convergence of new member states will take time.
15:01I mean, let's be realistic.
15:03Now it's time, Petros Ostevich, for your next question for Mr. Verja.
15:06I have a very provocative one.
15:07Good.
15:09Aurelius, would you agree with the kind of different kind of membership?
15:14I mean, second category of membership, if to speak about, for example, the case of Ukraine?
15:20Well, I don't know what that means, because, you know, it's devil is always in details what that means.
15:26But I would definitely agree that the process should be adjusted to from the previous times to nowadays.
15:36And Ukraine is not the only, let's say, candidate to access.
15:41So, definitely, it would be to all of them, probably, yeah.
15:45So, we have to bear that in mind.
15:48But I would agree that we should adjust the processes.
15:51It should be different than previous times.
15:54I think it means it's like giving Ukraine the key to the House, but not allowing them into every single
15:58room.
15:59So, perhaps, being allowed to sit in at the summit, but not vote, for example, is that something you would
16:03support?
16:03I mean, it's, indeed, devil in details.
16:06I mean, nobody quarrels about this.
16:08But, to me, it's important, I mean, to have a very clear time definition, when this transition period will end
16:15up.
16:17President Zelensky already, I mean, expressed his harsh criticism about secondary kind of membership.
16:22So, that's why we have to be sensitive towards this.
16:25We have to treat each and every European state as, you know, eligible for full membership.
16:31But let's be very clear in criteria when it ends.
16:34And it's a symbol, of course, would be a negative symbol.
16:36You could be sending there to Ukrainians.
16:38You have another question now.
16:40I would like to ask more precisely you, Patras, because you have an experience in negotiations when Lithuania was accessing
16:49the EU.
16:51How would you see, from your perspective, where Europe could demonstrate or should demonstrate flexibility regarding the requirements of accession
17:00when we speak about the new accessing countries, new candidates?
17:05I would be very, you know, insistent on democratic criteria.
17:09I mean, to start negotiations, there must be some, you know, already pre-fulfilling criteria.
17:15I mean, it's clear.
17:16I mean, democracy, human rights, I mean, nothing to negotiate about.
17:19I mean, once you fulfill, you're ready to start.
17:22But then, on economic criteria, indeed, I mean, it's a very fluid process.
17:28There are good and bad examples in this regard to what comes to the European history.
17:33But, you know, we have to impose probably this kind of approach of gradual, differentiated integration.
17:40So, letting, for example, Ukraine or other candidate countries into the single markets, certain parts of the single markets, once
17:49they, you know, ready, I mean, to compete on a single market, not harming the single market by kind of
17:57destruction factors.
17:59So, here I am more flexible on economic criteria.
18:04I think it will be more lengthy time-wise and probably more in details if it takes.
18:11Well, look, we have heard the first views of our MEPs.
18:14It is time now to bring in a new voice.
18:20I'd like to bring in the voice of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking alongside the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
18:26in Kyiv this week.
18:27He said this regarding EU membership.
18:30It is important to receive a clear date for joining the European Union.
18:34If there is no date, if there is no such guarantee, Russia will find a way to block Ukraine for
18:39decades by dividing you, by dividing Europe.
18:41We must protect ourselves from this.
18:44So, of course, when it comes to a timeline, both of you earlier, when I proposed the idea of 2027,
18:50you basically said that's not possible.
18:52So, what date would you like to propose?
18:54I would say 2030 could be a really realistic scenario for Ukraine to join.
19:00Same question to you.
19:02I think what President Zelenskyy tries to convey to us, I mean, he needs our commitment to start negotiations.
19:11Once you start negotiations, we'll be the end.
19:13So, I mean, the more committed both sides are, the more, you know, kind of efficient negotiations process is about.
19:22And believe me, we will have absolutely new accession strategy.
19:27And we heard this week as well, alongside President Zelenskyy, we heard also Ursula von der Leyen said she couldn't
19:32put a date on it, which we saw a very upset-looking President Zelenskyy.
19:35Look, it is time to take a very short break here on The Ring, but do stay with us.
19:40We'll be back very soon with some more political punch.
19:51Welcome back to The Ring, your news's weekly show, broadcasting here from the European Parliament in Brussels.
19:57I'm joined by the MEPs Petras, Austravitius and Aurelius Verga, and the idea here is to bring European Parliament debates
20:04to your very sofa.
20:05This week, our guests MEPs are sharing their views on whether or not Ukraine should be fast-tracked into the
20:11European Union.
20:11And as always, we love bringing in your views.
20:14So we had a look at some of the data that suggests actually 52% of EU citizens express their
20:20support for Ukraine's accession, providing, of course, the country meets all the membership conditions.
20:2541% oppose Ukraine, and Ukraine is most favourite candidate for EU membership in as many as 14 member states.
20:35So this is interesting there.
20:36The majority are in favour, but it's still quite tight.
20:39How do your voters back home feel about this, Mr. Verga?
20:43Well, I would guess we don't see the data on each and every member of the state, but I would
20:50guess this could be very much the same like the percentage of investment to defence according to the distance to
20:59Moscow.
20:59So I believe that, you know, the eastern part of the Europe that had an experience with the Russian aggression
21:06or even occupation, they would really support Ukraine's accession to EU.
21:13But I'm just guessing, so I don't know.
21:15What about you? How would your voters feel about this?
21:17Well, I take the present public opinion in the European Union towards Ukraine, much led by those pictures, I mean,
21:24see about Ukraine, destruction, war, you know, grim pictures, I mean, sad faces and so on and so forth.
21:32The public opinion, I mean, population of Europe must be well explained about cons and pros of each and every
21:41candidate country.
21:43And it should be well, I mean, it should be business of politicians, not just, you know, President Zelensky, I
21:50mean, crying for his country and advancing Ukraine towards the European Union.
21:55So that's why if we explain all arguments about Ukraine, it's a largest country, a lot of mineral resources, we
22:03need it.
22:04I mean, our economies are looking for this around.
22:07So population, Ukrainians are very much, you know, motivated and qualified labor force.
22:14So they're innovative. We see it in times of war as well.
22:17And finally, look, I think this kind of convergence of probably less developed economic economy to more developed economy, it
22:28creates a kind of very positive push for overall European economy.
22:33So that's why I think Europeans should be given figures, good arguments, and it will take time, I'm sure.
22:38Because Europeans are clearly so very worried about the cost of living crisis, and they're worried that they might get
22:42poorer as other countries join the bloc and then gradually get richer.
22:46Well, it didn't happen previously when Europe enlarged in the previous enlargements.
22:55So it will not happen also this time.
22:58So I agree that we have to explain people to have more explanations.
23:06But you're not very good at explaining. The EU has a major communication problem.
23:09Yes.
23:09Let's be honest.
23:10Yes, we do have a problem.
23:13And I believe those only 52 percent is a clear example or illustration that we still need more explanation about
23:25Ukraine.
23:26But often the perception now for our viewers, they're looking at Brussels, the constant summits and squabbles and disagreements and
23:32spats.
23:32I mean, this week is a perfect example with Hungary and Slovakia blocking the 20th sanctions package against Moscow.
23:39And of course, the 90 billion fund being frozen, the loan being frozen by Hungary.
23:43How could an EU function, a big EU with more than 30 member states?
23:47How could the council actually function and have an actual union that speaks with one voice?
23:51Well, I mean, firstly, we're really still led by cliché.
23:56I mean, a lot of cliché.
23:57You remember probably in after the Big Bang enlargement, the Polish plumber.
24:03I mean, that was a kind of perception in France.
24:07But the Polish plumber didn't destroy sanitation system in France.
24:11OK, but definitely coming to this bigger issue, we have to decide upon ourselves.
24:17This is a very serious strategic issue.
24:20It's not a daily issue.
24:22Next enlargement, I mean, we're speaking about 10 countries and more.
24:26They will pre-decide Europe's future.
24:28And we should ask not probably the, you know, the generation now in power, but young generation.
24:35OK, I mean, let's ask young people what kind of Europe, what kind of cooperation they want to have with
24:41those countries joining the European Union.
24:43And we will get more optimism.
24:45Well, please write to us, the ring at yournews.com.
24:48That is our email address.
24:49We love hearing your views.
24:50And you mentioned there, Petrus, the Polish plumber.
24:52Very wealthy Polish plumbers now heading back to Poland.
24:55Exactly.
24:56To work on their booming economy.
24:58But now it isn't time to move on to our fifth and final round.
25:02Are you ready?
25:03Yes, we are.
25:03Yes.
25:08So now it's time for something different.
25:10I'm going to ask my guest, Amit Pisa, a set of questions.
25:13And you've only got two options here.
25:15Yes or no.
25:16Is that doable?
25:19That's the most complicated question.
25:20I think you're going to struggle.
25:21It's a real politics.
25:22I think you're going to struggle.
25:23But let's try.
25:23Let's try.
25:24Is the EU too large to function today?
25:26Yes or no?
25:27No.
25:29No.
25:30Should Ukraine be fast-tracked into the European Union?
25:33Yes or no?
25:34Yes.
25:35Yes.
25:36Should Ukraine join the EU before 2030?
25:39Yes.
25:41I would like to see.
25:42Yes.
25:43Is the EU ready for another big bang enlargement?
25:46Yes or no?
25:49Take your question.
25:53Factually, not.
25:54But politically, I would say yes.
25:59Not yet.
26:00It will take time.
26:02Should agriculture subsidies be reduced in current member states to accommodate Ukraine?
26:09Oh, that's a good question.
26:12I mean, common agriculture policy will be different.
26:15And I hope this new accession will accelerate this process.
26:20Soraya?
26:20For the moment, I would say no.
26:22And should enlargement decisions require unanimous approval from all member states?
26:27As a final decision, yes.
26:29In between, no.
26:32Yes.
26:33And is enlargement today more about security than values, do you think, Petrus?
26:37Both.
26:37I mean, security is about values.
26:39Values about security.
26:40Yeah, the same.
26:43And is the future of the European Union bright, yes or no?
26:46Absolutely so.
26:47Because we are here.
26:48Yes, definitely, yes.
26:50So we have a conservative and a liberal both agreeing on a lot of topics.
26:54You see?
26:55Why don't you join the same party?
26:56We are from Lithuania.
26:58We don't need to join the same party.
27:00It's hard to find disagreement about Ukraine in Lithuania.
27:03I can tell you, we fight like cats at home.
27:06But here in Brussels, in the European Parliament, when it comes to strategic decisions, we join forces.
27:13It's all about finding compromise, gentlemen.
27:15Thank you.
27:15Thank you so much.
27:15That answer does bring this edition of The Ring to an end.
27:19Thank you so much to Petrus Austervicius and Aurelius Velga.
27:22It's been great hearing your views.
27:23And of course, you can join us anytime by writing to us as well at The Ring at yournews.com.
27:28But thank you so much for tuning in.
27:30Take care and see you soon here on Euronews.
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