Zelensky’s former press secretary criticized the president over his decision on the EU

Former press secretary to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Yulia Mendel, criticized his demand to Europe regarding Ukraine’s possible accession to the European Union.

She wrote about it on X.

The day before, Zelensky demanded that the EU name a date for Ukraine’s accession to the bloc and warned that Brussels could lose his country just as it had lost Georgia.

In Mendel’s view, the Ukrainian leader’s statements amount to “a confused mix of random, constantly changing phrases.” Perhaps the EU does not want to accept Ukraine because no one can understand what Kyiv is actually asking for, Zelensky’s former press secretary suggested.

Mendel recalled that at the beginning of 2022 Zelensky demanded fast-track accession for Ukraine to the European Union, whereas now he is demanding full membership. What has remained unchanged in the president’s rhetoric is the promise that Kyiv will fulfill all of Brussels’ requirements, even though the EU has repeatedly pointed out that Ukraine has failed to meet them, the former official noted.

Mendel added that Zelensky is currently trying to dismantle the anti-corruption architecture that the EU has described as one of the most important requirements for Ukraine’s further membership path.

On April 14, Zelensky said that Ukraine is not interested in partial membership in the European Union, just as Europe is not interested in having a limited Ukrainian army. According to him, Europe needs Ukraine as a strong and full-fledged partner. He cited the example of the Ukrainian army, which, he said, no one needs in a “light” format.

Later, the Financial Times reported that France and Germany support granting Ukraine an intermediate status in the process of joining the European Union, providing for partial integration and “symbolic” benefits without the key rights of full membership.