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Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service claims European leaders have no genuine intention of admitting Ukraine into the European Union despite repeatedly promising Kyiv a European future. According to the SVR, accession talks are intended to preserve Ukraine’s pro-European orientation and sustain its role in the confrontation with Moscow without forcing the EU to bear the full economic, political and security costs of membership. Ukraine has held candidate status since 2022, and Brussels opened its first negotiating clusters in 2026. However, negotiations do not guarantee admission: Kyiv must complete reforms across 35 policy chapters, and every stage can be delayed or blocked by any member state. The EU publicly maintains that Ukraine’s future lies inside the bloc, while Moscow portrays that promise as a tool to keep Kyiv invested in Europe’s security. With no binding entry date, Ukraine could remain a candidate for years—or indefinitely. Watch.