UA 
Amid a global storm, Europe is ready to unite and expand to counter external threats. Ukraine could become part of a shared defense system, but European integration demands the rule of law, adherence to rules, and strong institutions. How Trump and Putin unwittingly aided Ukraine's EU integration and what determines the pace of its accession – in a conversation with Lana Zerkal, a member of the Ukraine Facility Platform Coordination Council, on Ukrainska Pravda.
A step toward Ukraine: Europe breaks with old enlargement habits
Ukraine can grow stronger as part of the EU. It will remain a frontier state – but no longer as a country standing alone, rather as part of a larger community. Surprisingly, US President Donald Trump has "helped" Ukraine's European integration. Russian President Vladimir Putin "helped" Ukraine recognize itself as a nation with much in common worth defending, while Trump «helped» Europe grasp its responsibility for security. Both have unwittingly taken steps that will work against them in the long run.
Europe's overall approach to enlargement is now shifting, despite decades of sticking to established practices. Ukraine has already received all membership benchmarks before negotiations were even formally opened. Because Europe has a stake in uniting against external challenges. After all, the world is reverting to a reality where power dictates the rules.
What will Ukraine gain from EU membership? Even now, candidate status alone brings funding that Ukraine cannot survive without. It may seem insufficient. But Ukraine still has resources for social payments and arms procurement. It could also access frozen Russian assets. The only question is when EU member states will be ready to channel those resources toward Ukraine's reconstruction.
European integration depends on Ukraine's parliament and government
EU integration demands change within Ukraine itself – in upholding the rule of law and building functional institutions. Following the rules. Preparing for the worst-case scenario. The pace of reform will determine when Ukraine becomes an EU member.
Ukraine's government and parliament are the very bodies responsible for implementing change on the legislative front. We can all track how effectively they work on EU integration decisions and how much of a priority it truly is for them.
There is resistance to change. The path to visa-free travel took seven years and met fierce opposition. But the benefits are felt by everyone who holds a biometric passport.
EU defense and security
The Iran campaign is yet another reminder that the entire world is caught in a perfect storm. The question is what Europe, the US, and the Middle East will look like when they emerge from it. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has become a more powerful lever of deterrence against the United States for Iran than its nuclear program ever was.
Fuel prices worldwide will depend on how long the war lasts: the longer it continues, the more devastating the economic fallout across every sphere of life.
Against this backdrop, Europe is rethinking its approach to defense. And Ukraine could become part of this new system.
How Europe and Ukraine are preparing for winter
Europe has developed policies for winter preparedness amid the energy crisis: how to procure gas without fueling panic-driven demand, what changes EU countries should adopt, and how to support those in need. For instance, targeted subsidies are being introduced and taxes reduced for farmers who cannot afford fertilizers or fuel. This is a balanced approach to a scarce resource.
For its part, Ukraine has launched a nationwide fuel cashback – a partial reimbursement program for vehicle fuel purchases. Ukraine is also counting on EU funds to build new generation capacity under its "resilience plans". But purchasing energy equipment and delivering projects takes time, and the window before winter may not be enough.
That is why the greater source of optimism is people coming together through homeowners' associations to buy energy storage systems for their buildings. The fact that people are cooperating and building something together – that is a genuinely positive shift for society.
