EU countries have warned Brussels not to give Ukraine realistic expectations of a quick entry into the organization. These reservations came just before the Kyiv summit, at which Volodymyr Zelensky will push for progress in joining and rebuilding his country..

The Financial Times writes about this, recalling that EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel will arrive in Kyiv on Friday. During the meeting, the Ukrainian president is expected to lobby for Ukraine's entry into the European Union, as well as to promote the idea of \u200b\u200busing Russia's frozen assets to restore Ukraine and create a mechanism to prosecute Russians for war crimes..

Diplomats from EU capitals are concerned that senior officials in Brussels are encouraging unrealistic Ukrainian expectations, including membership by 2026, instead of deterrence..

“No political leader wants to be on the wrong side of history… No one wants to be accused of not doing enough. So they tell them anything is possible,” an unnamed EU diplomat told the publication..

In response to the Russian invasion, the EU tried to support Ukraine with military, humanitarian and financial support packages, as well as the imposition of sanctions that hit the economies of the participating countries.. The EU also took the unprecedented step of making Ukraine an official candidate for membership, despite not meeting the requirements. But if the countries of Central and Eastern Europe supported the Ukrainian demands, then other capitals in the north and west of the continent are worried about how the large and poor Ukrainian population, as well as the powerful Ukrainian agricultural sector, will be integrated into the EU..

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Emmanuel Macron was especially cautious about the speed of Ukraine's accession to the EU. In May, before Kyiv was formally granted candidate status, the French president warned that the process could take decades.. EU leaders adopt an optimistic tone. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during a visit to Kyiv in September that the accession process is going well.

“The speed, determination and precision with which you move forward is amazing,” she said..

European Council President Charles Michel said this month that "

“Ukraine is the EU, and the EU is Ukraine,” he said during an address to the Ukrainian parliament.

Such rhetoric gave Kyiv the impression that he deserved special privileges and quick entry into the organization.. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmihal said it could happen in two years.

“There will be no fast track to Ukraine’s EU membership. There is a risk that this rhetoric will break into reality,” said another unnamed European diplomat..

A number of EU officials told the Financial Times that the European Commission needs to make it clear to Kyiv that major hurdles still need to be overcome before accession talks, which could also take decades or more, can begin..

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“This gap between promise and reality has been widening for some time now.. And we're approaching the point where it's going to be too big. Looks like they believe they can get a membership tomorrow. And this is definitely not the case,” said a third EU diplomat..

Von der Leyen and other European Commissioners, as well as the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, will meet with members of the Ukrainian government and Zelensky on Friday.

“We have all noticed the momentum of reforms in Ukraine,” an unnamed EU official said ahead of the summit, pointing to work in the areas of strengthening the rule of law and fighting corruption.. Discussions in Kyiv will highlight the need for further reforms, as well as economic cooperation and the reduction of trade barriers between Ukraine and the EU. Michel and Von der Leyen also called on the countries of the union to evaluate ways to use the frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

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