Yehor Sobolev, a participant in the Ukraine revolution of 2014, knows all too well the sacrifices made by Kyiv in its long-standing pursuit to become part of the European Union. After supporting critical reforms following the democracy-instigating revolt a decade ago, the 47-year-old deputy commander of a special military division is all set to observe the opening of formal EU admission discussions on Tuesday.
The initiation of these debates, although mainly symbolic, signifies a significant stride for a country that has shed blood and implemented necessary reforms in its quest for EU affiliation. Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, proclaimed on Friday that the nation is reuniting with Europe, where it has always belonged, and is stepping up as an integral part of the European community.
Post Russia’s full-fledged assault in February 2022, Ukraine submitted its application to become part of the EU. Ukraine perceives the membership as confirmation of its struggle to uphold European beliefs. The nation now stands on the brink of a long journey towards EU membership, which necessitates a major overhaul of a still Soviet-influenced bureaucracy.
The challenges are amplified by the continuous conflict with Russia, where there’s no apparent resolution in sight. Ukrainian cities and towns are perpetually exposed to Russian airstrikes, causing civilian and soldier casualties and pushing millions to flee their homes while disrupting key infrastructure and energy facilities.
In many ways, Yehor Sobolev’s narrative embodies Ukraine’s journey over the last ten years. He played a key role in the Maidan revolution that ousted a Russia-favoured leader following protests spurred by his failure to enhance ties with the EU. Sobolev subsequently contributed towards the establishment of critical laws forming Ukraine’s anti-corruption framework, crucial for obtaining financial assistance and support for Ukraine’s EU integration. He also co-authored a law aiming to erase evidences of Ukraine’s Soviet past and Russian sway, which facilitated the renaming of numerous streets, towns, and cities and removal of monuments.
In 2021, Mr Sobolev climbed the ranks within the Ukrainian military as an everyday soldier to officer. This rise happened during an escalation of the conflict with Russia, which Ukraine attests commenced in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and incitement of discord in Eastern Ukraine. Mr Sobolev equates the corrupt officials they had faced during the Maidan riots with the leaders of the ‘Russian world’ such as President Putin, viewing it as a single war.
The next round of negotiations regarding Ukraine’s accession is anticipated to commence in a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg this Tuesday. The discussion precedes Hungary’s takeover of the rotating six-month EU presidency. Hungary has a more intimate relationship with Russia compared to other EU member countries.
Ukraine leapt the initial barriers towards accession last December, demonstrating advancement in their fight against corruption and restoring their judicial sector, among other crucial aspects identified by the EU. According to Leonid Litra of the New Europe Centre, a think tank in Kyiv, Ukraine must now strategise a comprehensive plan to attain enduring results, which will be assessed against a set of benchmarks. Subsequently, the focus will shift to areas including agriculture, taxation, and addressing climate change.
Father of four, Mr Sobolev, is fully aware of the challenging journey that lays ahead, particularly due to the entrenched old mindsets in certain government sections. Despite this, he believes the potential of becoming a part of the 27-nation EU bloc would motivate Ukrainians to seriously adopt good governance practices.
He asserts, “In this context, war pressures a community to mature.” – Reuters
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