New states in the EU oppose giving Ukraine candidate status. Read below why.
▪️Denmark and Sweden are not ready to support giving Ukraine EU candidate status. The countries have invested a lot of effort in reforms in Ukraine, especially anti-corruption, and decided to set some conditions in this area before the next EU step.
▪️The Netherlands. Prime Minister Mark Rutte insists on not giving Ukraine new statuses until the conditions are met. However, several sources reported that he had promised to lift the blockade if only one condition is left.
▪️Cautious positive signals are coming from Austria. This state, which a month and a half ago publicly excluded any possibility of granting candidate status to Ukraine, has slowly begun to soften its position.
▪️France is also becoming more supportive of the candidacy and is likely to offer status to the EU’s two neighbors, Ukraine and Moldova.
▪️Germany acts as usual under Olaf Scholz’s chancellery – avoids a certain position. Scholz prefers to say “no” to the candidacy; however, he is under a lot of pressure from electors, some fellow party members, and dip in his ratings.
▪️Hungary will vote in favor of Ukraine. Despite media activity, incorrect statements by Orban’s team, etc., Budapest has decided to support the movement of the neighboring state to the EU.
Tags: EU russia ukraine war

![Aftermath of Russian strikes on Sumy region railway infrastructure and the “Wagon of Invincibility” shelter burned and damaged by drone attack. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}](https://empr.media/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ses-1-300x172.png)


![NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv, announcing allied troops, warplanes and naval support will follow a peace agreement with Russia. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}](https://empr.media/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/marc-300x156.png)







