On September 30, 2025, Ukraine and the European Union reached a significant milestone: the completion of the legislative screening process required for EU accession negotiations. According to Babel.ua, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos praised Ukraine for completing the screening "at a record pace under challenging conditions," laying what she called "the foundations for its European future." This achievement marks a major step in Ukraine’s long and arduous journey toward joining the EU, even as the country continues to face the grim realities of ongoing war and complex international diplomacy.
The screening process, as described by Kos, involved a detailed comparative analysis of Ukrainian legislation against the vast body of European Union law, known as the acquis communautaire. The goal was to identify which Ukrainian statutes already meet EU standards and which require further change. With the screening now completed, both Ukraine and European institutions have a comprehensive understanding of how Ukrainian laws align with EU requirements. The next phase will see the European Commission preparing a formal assessment and recommendations, which will guide the EU Council in deciding when to open negotiation chapters on topics ranging from justice and competition to agriculture and energy.
Ukraine is not alone in this journey. Moldova has also completed its legislative screening, and both countries are moving in parallel to the next stages of negotiations. However, the path is anything but straightforward. As reported by Babel.ua, the EU is considering separating Moldova from Ukraine in the accession process due to Hungary’s ongoing blockade. The Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has been vocal in its opposition to Ukraine’s membership bid. In April 2025, Orbán urged his citizens to vote against Ukrainian EU membership in a national referendum. The results, published in June, showed a staggering 95% of Hungarians opposed to Ukraine joining the EU. This has led to mounting frustration among other EU members, with Denmark’s Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, calling for increased pressure on Hungary. Bjerre has even suggested activating Article 7 of the EU Treaty—often referred to as the "nuclear option"—which could strip Hungary of its voting rights in the EU Council for violating fundamental principles of the Union.
While Ukraine celebrates its progress on the European front, the war with Russia grinds on. On the same day as the legislative milestone, Russian President Vladimir Putin released a video rallying Russians behind what he described as a "righteous battle" in Ukraine. "Our fighters and commanders go on the attack, and the entire country, all of Russia, is waging this righteous battle and working hard," Putin declared, according to the Kremlin. He emphasized national unity and the "historical destiny" of Russia, urging continued support for the war effort.
Yet, not everyone sees the conflict through Putin’s lens. Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, US envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg countered the Kremlin’s narrative, stating, "Russia is not winning this war, and the Ukrainians have fought boldly and exceptionally well." Kellogg acknowledged the "level of frustration" over stalled peace talks and added that Putin "realizes he can't win this." The sentiment was echoed by former US President Donald Trump, who, in a surprising turn, publicly supported military aid to Ukraine and praised its fighting spirit under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—a notable reversal from his earlier skepticism and suggestions that Ukraine should consider ceding territory for peace.
Despite Trump’s newfound support, the peace process remains fraught. According to Afghan Voice Agency, Hungarian official Levente Magyar stated that Ukraine will "probably have to cede about a fifth of its territory to achieve peace," though he admitted it was unclear how Kyiv could avoid such a scenario. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov echoed this, saying that expecting a full return to Ukraine’s 2022 borders is unrealistic. Sources cited by Reuters revealed that Putin, during a meeting with Trump, demanded the transfer of eastern Ukrainian regions still outside Russian control, while offering to withdraw from some small areas. President Zelenskyy, however, has been unequivocal: "Ukrainians will never hand over their territory to the occupiers and any solution must involve Kiev and the interests of the people of the country."
The prospect of a peace deal is further complicated by ongoing military developments and shifting international alliances. Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have captured three villages in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, while the US continues to weigh Ukraine’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. According to Reuters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the potential impact of such weapons, stating that even if supplied, they "would not change the battlefield situation." Nonetheless, US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that President Trump would make the final decision on approving missile sales, and US envoy Kellogg indicated a new openness to allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, noting, "there are no sanctuaries."
Amid these high-stakes negotiations, diplomatic activity has intensified. Recent peace efforts led by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London were downgraded to technical talks after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to attend. The US administration is reportedly urging Kyiv to accept Russia’s control of occupied regions and Moscow’s ownership of Crimea as part of any settlement. Trump, meanwhile, wrote on his social media platform that "we are very close to a deal," but criticized Zelenskyy’s refusal to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, suggesting it was making a settlement more difficult. Vice President Vance warned that it was time for both sides to accept the US’s "very fair proposal" to "freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today," hinting that the US might "walk away from this process" if no agreement is reached soon.
In the midst of these diplomatic maneuvers, the resilience of the Ukrainian people remains a focal point. As the New York Daily News observed, "Even after nearly four years of grueling warfare, including Putin‘s intentional attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, that will remains unbroken, with the Ukrainian public no less committed to retaining their liberty and sovereignty even if they have to win it on the battlefield." European leaders, meanwhile, are urged to strengthen their own security capabilities, wary of the shifting reliability of US support and the uncertain future of transatlantic alliances.
With the legislative screening for EU accession complete, Ukraine stands at a crossroads—moving forward with European integration while navigating the treacherous waters of war and diplomacy. The coming months will reveal whether Ukraine’s determination, international support, and diplomatic agility can secure both its territorial integrity and its place within the European family.