OREANDA-NEWS. Ukraine has no chance of joining the European Union until the end of the special operation in Donbass, as this is a very long procedure that takes years, said Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). In his opinion, even if Ukraine urgently joins the EU, it will have to rebuild its economy and legal system for a long time and “painfully”, writes Lenta.ru.

Kortunov noted that, in fact, Ukraine could join the European Union in a short time, but for this it would be necessary to prepare a whole package of documents providing for the entry of this particular country into the Union. Such an attitude to the problems of Kyiv can cause resentment among other countries that have long been "stand in line," Kortunov said. He referred Turkey to one of these states.

Moreover, the RIAC Director General continued, even after joining the European Union, Ukraine will need huge funds to change its economic and legal system. In addition, while hostilities are going on in the country, it will not be able to use the privileges of an EU member state, Kortunov concluded.

Earlier, a member of the Federation Council, Sergei Tsekov, in a conversation with NEWS.ru, said that at least two countries in Europe - France and Germany - will do everything to prevent Ukraine from joining the EU. According to the senator, Paris and Berlin do not need "new freeloaders and security problems."