The European Union is exploring various options to link Ukraine's prospective future membership to a potential peace agreement. These options include pre-emptively granting Kyiv some protections typically afforded to EU membership as well as instant access to certain membership rights. According to sources familiar with the matter, the EU plans to provide Ukraine with a detailed timeline outlining necessary steps for formal proceedings, ensuring a clear pathway for the nation's integration into the Union.

One of the other options discussed involves maintaining Ukraine's current membership path, or alternatively introducing a transitional period that allows for gradual membership over time. This approach acknowledges the complexities surrounding the peace agreement while reinforcing the EU's commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty amid ongoing conflict. The ambition laid out in a 20-point peace plan, largely developed with U.S. collaboration, anticipates Ukraine's EU membership by 2027, along with some membership advantages during the transitional phase.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his country's aspiration to join the EU by next year, emphasizing that such membership would provide a crucial security guarantee for Ukraine. This reflects Ukraine's strategic pivot towards the EU amid the ongoing war and highlights the importance of European integration as a significant factor in the nation’s long-term stabilization and recovery efforts post-conflict. As EU discussions continue, the implications of granting Ukraine these advantages could reshape both regional security dynamics and the EU's own policies towards enlargement and external relations.