Poland will not block opening of EU accession clusters for Ukraine, Sikorski says
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said at a joint briefing in Kyiv with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha that Poland will not block the opening of new EU accession negotiation clusters for Ukraine. He framed Ukraine's path as analogous to Poland's own accession experience and linked Ukrainian security to Poland's, warning that "Russian terrorism has already entered Europe."
Key points
- Sikorski made the statement at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on 13 September.
- Poland will not block the opening of further EU accession negotiation clusters for Ukraine.
- Sikorski said EU accession negotiations will not be easy for Ukraine, as they were not easy for Poland.
- According to Sikorski, the European Commission considers Ukraine already ready for accession negotiations.
- Sikorski said Ukraine could join the EU single market before completing full accession, by implementing the Association Agreement and DCFTA.
- Two clusters have so far been opened for Ukraine: "Fundamentals" (approved by all 27 member states on 15 June) and "External Relations" (opened 14 July).
- On 1 September, Hungary refused to approve screening results for clusters 2 and 3, demanding legislative steps regarding the Hungarian national minority.
Why it matters
Poland's stated non-block removes a potential veto from among EU member states as Ukraine seeks to open more accession clusters. Sikorski's framing of Ukraine's accession as comparable to Poland's own experience signals Polish political backing for the process. His linking of Ukrainian security to Polish security — citing bombings near the border — ties the EU accession question to the broader security environment. He also held out the prospect of Ukraine joining the EU single market before formal accession through implementation of the Association Agreement and DCFTA.
What happened
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski visited Kyiv for a joint briefing with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. He stated that Poland will not block the opening of new EU accession negotiation clusters for Ukraine, while cautioning that opening clusters does not mean they will be closed quickly. Sikorski compared Ukraine's accession path to Poland's own experience and said the European Commission considers Ukraine already ready for negotiations. He expressed hope that Ukraine would complete implementation of the Association Agreement and the DCFTA, arguing this could allow Ukraine to participate in the EU single market even before formal accession. On security, Sikorski said "Russian terrorism has already entered Europe" and that bombings near the Polish border affect the security of Polish citizens, framing Polish and Ukrainian security as inseparable.
Background
Two EU accession negotiation clusters have so far been opened for Ukraine: "Fundamentals," approved by all 27 member states on 15 June, and "External Relations," opened at the EU-Ukraine Intergovernmental Conference on 14 July. On 1 September, Hungary refused to approve screening results for clusters 2 and 3, demanding legislative steps regarding the Hungarian national minority; on 3 September, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said Ukraine does not meet the conditions for EU accession and that its integration must proceed under general rules without exceptions or accelerated procedures. Ukraine's Ambassador to Hungary Fedir Shandor has said all negotiation clusters could be opened by the end of the year. Polish officials have previously expressed mixed views: Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Warsaw would not support accession unless Kyiv changes its approach to honouring OUN and UPA figures; President Karol Nawrocki said accession would threaten Polish agriculture; Prime Minister Donald Tusk said official Warsaw does not plan to trade its support for Ukraine's EU accession. A July Opinia24 poll found 52% of Polish citizens opposed to Ukraine's accession to the EU.