Morning opening: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy doubles down on 2027 target for EU accession
Jakub Krupa
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy doubled down on suggestions that Ukraine would be “technically” ready to join the European Union in 2027, despite pushback from some European leaders this week suggesting that his insistence on a fast-tracked accession was unrealistic and even unnecessarily antagonising some in the bloc.
Luxembourg’s foreign minister, Xavier Bettel, insisted on Thursday that “we have rules and we need to respect them,” as he stressed that he repeatedly asked Zelenskyy to stop putting pressure on the EU on the timing as it was counterproductive.
Even EU’s top official in charge of the enlargement, commissioner Marta Kos, hinted that while the political will was there, more might be needed (Europe Live, Thursday here and here).
“Technically, we will be ready in 2027,” Zelenskyy told reporters, Reuters reported, adding that by the end of 2026 Ukraine will have implemented the main steps required for membership.
I think the European Commission may have a slightly more nuanced view on that, given its last year’s progress report pointing to “some level of preparation” in many areas, with only limited progress on some of the key issues, such as fight against corruption, or insufficient capacity in some areas looked at by the EU.
But Zelenskyy made it clear that primarily he primarily wanted to get “a clear timeline” to know what are the real prospects of joining the bloc, seeing it as an important part of security guarantees after the war as he is expected to continue trilateral talks with Russia and the US in the upcoming days.
But remember: EU enlargement requires unanimous decision by the 27 member states, and Hungary not only has long opposed a fast-tracked accession of Ukraine, but the relations between the two countries have markedly worsened in the last few weeks.
“95% of Hungarians have rejected Ukraine’s fast-tracked EU membership because they want to protect our farmers, the safety of our families, and peace in Hungary,” the country’s pro-Russian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, said yesterday.
The issue is likely to feature prominently in the upcoming parliamentary election in Hungary, which could see a change of government after Orbán’s 16 years in power.
Let’s see if we get more reactions from the EU on this today. I will bring you all the latest.
It’s Friday, 30 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Key events
Not supporting Ukraine now risks letting Russia expand its war in future, Zelenskyy warns
Separately, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy spoke with Czech public radio warning that a failure to help Ukraine carries a broader risk that Russia could extend its war to more countries in the future, posing direct threat to others in the region.
Asked to respond to some voices critical of supporting Ukraine in the new Czech government, he said:
“If we don’t help Ukraine and Ukraine falls, there is a risk that Russia will continue. Even if one doesn’t believe it completely, I don’t think it needs to be verified. The price is too high. …
There is a huge risk for Europe, for any country, that Russian aggression will continue. And who else will endure what Ukraine has endured?
Zelenskyy was also asked about the state of play in talks with Russia and the US, saying that some contentious issues – like territory – still need to be resolved.
He also said that Ukraine was still working on security guarantees with the US and the EU, although they appeared to be close to being finalised.
The Ukrainian president was also confronted with rumours suggesting that the US linked its security guarantees with Ukraine making concessions on the Donbas region.
“I have heard about it in political circles, some politicians talked about it. But I have not heard about it directly from President Trump. And it is a security guarantee from him and the US Congress,” he said.
But he added:
“I understand that these security guarantees cost something. And the question is what is the price.”
Zelenskyy also repeated his claim that Ukraine would be ready to join the EU in 2027 (9:58), but acknowledged that “It depends on whether the partners agree,” adding: “I cannot speak for them.”
Separately, he also thanked Czechs for a recent emergency fundraiser for Ukraine, which raised almost €7m for energy, heat generators for Kyiv (Europe Live, Monday).
Zelenskyy spoke with Germany’s Merz about Russian attacks, ceasefire talks
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy also spoke by phone with German chancellor Friedrich Merz last night, according to the readout published by the German government.
During their call, Merz “strongly condemned the ongoing, systematic, and brutal destruction of Ukrainian civilian energy infrastructure by Russian attacks,” the statement said, with Zelenskyy thanking Germany for its “winter aid package” to help with air defence and power, heat generation.
“Both leaders welcomed the efforts to achieve a ceasefire. The chancellor reiterated Germany’s support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The two leaders remain in close contact on this matter,” the readout stated.
Trump asked Putin to halt strikes on Kyiv until Sunday, Kremlin says
Oh, we now have a confirmation from the Kremlin that Putin had received a “personal request” from Trump (10:37) to halt strikes on Kyiv until 1 February, this Sunday, “in order to create favourable conditions for negotiations.”
Asked about the request and Russia’s response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined further comment.
‘Let him come’ to Kyiv, ‘if he dares,’ Zelenskyy says in response to Putin’s suggestions of Moscow meeting
Speaking of talks, Volodymyr Zelenskyy doesn’t seem to be too keen on Vladimir Putin’s repeated and provocative suggestions that he could come to Moscow.
In his comments to journalists this morning, reported by Ukrainska Pravda, Zelenskyy said:
“It is absolutely impossible for me to meet with Putin in Moscow. That would be the same as meeting with Putin in Kyiv. I can just as well invite him to Kyiv – let him come. I am publicly inviting him, if he dares, of course.”
But he insisted he was open to genuine peace talks at the leaders’ level.
“I have always said that I am ready for any format aimed at ending the war that actually works.
But in Moscow or in Belarus, this is simply impossible – and it is absolutely clear why: because one of these countries is the aggressor that started and is waging the war against us, killing us, while the other country is its partner in these actions.”
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said earlier that Zelenskyy was ready to meet with Putin to discuss the two main outstanding points, on the future of the Zaporizhzhia power plant and the potential territorial changes.
Russia launched over 100 drones, but just one missile at Ukraine after Trump ceasefire comments
Separately, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched over 100 drones and just one missile at Ukraine overnight.
On Thursday, US president Donald Trump has claimed that Vladimir Putin has agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for one week after he issued a personal appeal to the Russian leader due to the extreme cold in Ukraine.
Both Russia and Ukraine seemed surprised by Trump’s public announcement of the agreement. Zelenskyy later wrote that a ceasefire on power plants and other vital energy infrastructure had been discussed between the two sides and that he “expects the agreements to be implemented”.
Ukraine’s state weather agency forecast a drastic dip in temperatures to as low as minus 30C in coming days as authorities race to restore power services.
Trilateral Ukraine, US, Russia talks could be postponed as US focused on Iran, Zelenskyy says
Ukraine was meant to continue its trilateral talks with the US and Russia this weekend, but Zelenskyy hinted at a possible delay, as the US appears to be focused on Iran instead.
“It is very important for us that everyone we agreed with be present at the meeting, because everyone is expecting feedback,” he said in comments reported by Reuters.
“But the date or the location may change – because, in our view, something is happening in the situation between the United States and Iran. And those developments could likely affect the timing,” Zelenskyy said.
US state secretary Marco Rubio had said earlier this week that president Donald Trump’s top envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who attended the previous round of talks, would not participate in the weekend meeting in Abu Dhabi.
It was unclear in the talks could go ahead in another format.
Morning opening: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy doubles down on 2027 target for EU accession
Jakub Krupa
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy doubled down on suggestions that Ukraine would be “technically” ready to join the European Union in 2027, despite pushback from some European leaders this week suggesting that his insistence on a fast-tracked accession was unrealistic and even unnecessarily antagonising some in the bloc.
Luxembourg’s foreign minister, Xavier Bettel, insisted on Thursday that “we have rules and we need to respect them,” as he stressed that he repeatedly asked Zelenskyy to stop putting pressure on the EU on the timing as it was counterproductive.
Even EU’s top official in charge of the enlargement, commissioner Marta Kos, hinted that while the political will was there, more might be needed (Europe Live, Thursday here and here).
“Technically, we will be ready in 2027,” Zelenskyy told reporters, Reuters reported, adding that by the end of 2026 Ukraine will have implemented the main steps required for membership.
I think the European Commission may have a slightly more nuanced view on that, given its last year’s progress report pointing to “some level of preparation” in many areas, with only limited progress on some of the key issues, such as fight against corruption, or insufficient capacity in some areas looked at by the EU.
But Zelenskyy made it clear that primarily he primarily wanted to get “a clear timeline” to know what are the real prospects of joining the bloc, seeing it as an important part of security guarantees after the war as he is expected to continue trilateral talks with Russia and the US in the upcoming days.
But remember: EU enlargement requires unanimous decision by the 27 member states, and Hungary not only has long opposed a fast-tracked accession of Ukraine, but the relations between the two countries have markedly worsened in the last few weeks.
“95% of Hungarians have rejected Ukraine’s fast-tracked EU membership because they want to protect our farmers, the safety of our families, and peace in Hungary,” the country’s pro-Russian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, said yesterday.
The issue is likely to feature prominently in the upcoming parliamentary election in Hungary, which could see a change of government after Orbán’s 16 years in power.
Let’s see if we get more reactions from the EU on this today. I will bring you all the latest.
It’s Friday, 30 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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