Russia’s SVR: EU launched Ukraine accession talks to prevent an “anti-European pivot”

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service has stated that the European Union initiated pre-accession negotiations with Ukraine in order to prevent a possible “anti-European pivot” by Kyiv in the future.

This was reported by the SVR press bureau.

“To prevent Ukrainian disillusionment and an ‘anti-European pivot,’ Brussels in June offered the launch of pre-accession talks with Ukraine as a ‘sweetener,'” the intelligence service’s statement reads.

According to the SVR, EU member state leaders are categorically dismissing the real possibility of Ukraine’s European integration in internal discussions in Brussels. The reason cited is concern over significant economic and political risks to “united Europe.” In addition, the press bureau claims that the European Union lacks the resources to meet Ukraine’s inflated demands required for membership in the bloc.

At the end of February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that the European Union set a specific date for the country’s accession to the bloc — before 2027. He also declared Ukraine’s technical readiness to open all the clusters necessary to begin EU membership negotiations.