A Kyiv lawmaker stated that admitting Ukraine into the EU would deliver a "very clear message" to Putin.

• Negotiations with the EU can take years to ensure a new member is in line with the bloc's policies.
• Concerns about corruption in Ukraine have been raised by European institutions, and reforms are necessary before Ukraine can be granted full membership in the EU.

Allowing Ukraine to swiftly join the European Union would send a clear message to Russia's Vladimir Putin that his strategy has failed, a Ukrainian parliament member told CNBC Wednesday.

If Ukraine were fast-tracked by Brussels, Putin would not change his behavior, according to Vadym Halaichuk, first deputy chair of the European Integration Committee in Ukraine and a lawmaker for Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People. The most important issue, Halaichuk emphasized, is the political message that Ukraine is already part of the European Union, and this should send Putin a clear sign that his idea to turn Ukraine back into a Soviet Union structure is a failure.

From Kyiv, he stated that Ukraine has made a decision and will not go back in that direction. It is now the European Union's turn to make a clear message to Putin that his strategy has failed.

On Tuesday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, appealed to European lawmakers to consider making his country their newest member, following an official request he sent to Brussels earlier in the week to expedite the accession process.

"You will leave Ukraine lonely if you don't help us," Zelenskyy told the EU Parliament. "We have shown our strength and equality to you," he added.

The EU, consisting of 27 members, has been without the United Kingdom since 2020. Following the 2008 financial crash and the ensuing euro zone debt crisis, the bloc has halted the addition of new members, making the topic of membership a delicate matter among European nations.

Negotiations with the EU can take years to ensure a new member is in line with the bloc's policies.

Concerns about corruption in Ukraine have been raised by European institutions, and reforms are necessary before Ukraine can be granted full membership in the EU.

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, expressed her backing for Ukraine's membership in the EU on Tuesday, while also cautioning that "a long road lies ahead."

"We must put an end to this war and discuss the following actions, but I am confident that those who courageously defend our European values are rightful members of our European community," she stated.

On Tuesday, European Council President Charles Michel stated, "As the EU, it is our responsibility to act in accordance with the times, even though it will be challenging, and there are varying perspectives."

Despite not being a military alliance, the EU has sent military equipment to a conflict zone for the first time in its history in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, the bloc's defense capabilities are limited.

Despite not being a military organization, the European Union provides a lot of defense-related aid, including military aid from our European neighbors, as Halaichuk stated on Thursday.