The signing of the European Union membership application by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the fourth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was not a turning point in the history of Ukraine. Ukraine has steadily – yet slowly and falteringly – pursued integration with the EU since the 2013–14 Euromaidan events. Ukraine’s wartime membership application is, however, a potential change maker for the EU’s enlargement policy, which has been characterized by slow progress with accessions and member states’ reservations towards enlargement. As a consequence, mistrust among applicant countries towards the process has increased, and the joint EU approach to future enlargement has become more ambiguous.
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