T
he Ukrainian word volia is not easy to translate. It denotes freedom, but also the courage and willingness to fight for that freedom. The Ukrainian people have personified this value every day over the course of four long years of full-scale war.
During the chaos that characterised the opening days of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine kept its focus on the future it was fighting for. Just four days after Russia launched its war, it applied for European Union membership. The EU should not lose sight of its long-term strategic objectives either. Ukraine's EU membership can make a decisive difference to our capacity to defend ourselves, assert our values and stand up for our interests in an increasingly fragmented world.
Today, Europe's long-standing dependencies and vulnerabilities are being exposed, and sometimes even exploited. Ukraine's EU membership would not only anchor the country's future in Europe. It can also help reduce Europe's strategic dependencies and strengthen its strategic autonomy. Taking that view, Ukraine is an asset for Europe, not a liability.
Moral arguments
