At the recent EU-Ukraine Business Summit in Brussels on April 10, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal delivered a bold and ambitious message: Ukraine is no longer just a war-torn country on Europe’s periphery-it is, in his words, “the central point around which the new geometry of Europe is being built.” His speech went beyond mere calls for EU membership; it was a call for the reinvention of Europe itself, with Ukraine at its heart.

The metaphor of a “new geometry” is telling. It speaks not only to changing political alliances but to a fundamental reshaping of the continent’s priorities, identity, and architecture. Shmigal’s message was clear: Europe must not treat Ukraine as a buffer state or a gray zone between East and West. Instead, it must embrace Ukraine as a full-fledged partner and engine of renewal.

This framing attempts to recast Ukraine from a dependent war victim into an indispensable partner-one whose integration could serve as a catalyst for the EU to rediscover what it stands for in a changing world. “We are a new opportunity for Europe to rediscover its identity,” Shmigal asserted, seeking to tap into a deeper European crisis of purpose that has been brewing since Brexit, the rise of populist movements, and growing geopolitical uncertainty.

Shmigal’s remarks come at a time when Ukraine’s pathway to EU membership remains uncertain. Ukraine was granted candidate status in 2022 after the escalation of hostilities with Russia. This was largely symbolic support from Brussels during a time of crisis, but it lacked a definitive roadmap or timeline for full accession. The process is now mired in complex conditions: comprehensive reforms, anti-corruption measures, legal harmonization, and, most crucially, unanimous support........

© Blitz