It is understandable that Kyiv, surrounded by Russian tanks, would rather be in the EU today than tomorrow.
And that the neighboring states, which have long warned against Putin, support the Ukrainian wish.
The Ukrainians signed the application for membership with the blood they shed in the fight against the Russian invaders.
The Ukrainian people cannot make it clearer which world they feel they belong to – and in which they definitely do not want to end up after this war.
But the Ukrainians and the EU do not decide that alone;
they would not be able to do that even with an accession procedure at the speed of light.
With its attack on Ukraine, Moscow wants to prevent the "brother nation" from joining the liberal democracies of the West.
It was the association agreement with the EU that set off the sirens in the Kremlin.
If Putin sticks to his war goal
If Putin sticks to his war goal of turning Ukraine into a buffer and satellite state under his dictates, then the considerations of EU membership will be a lost effort of solidarity.
They only make sense if the country can be liberated from the Kremlin's clutches.
The EU wants to contribute with funds from its "peace facility", which will be left to Kyiv to buy weapons and fuel.
However, the EU's strongest sword would be the oil and gas embargo.
However, it has two cutting edges.
Whoever wields it also inflicts wounds on himself.
How long would western societies endure the pain?
If no more money flows to Moscow, would Putin finally seriously negotiate a solution that was previously out of the question for him?
He is currently betting on the fact that the Russians are more willing to suffer.
And now also to his butchers from Syria.
But maybe Schröder was able to talk sense into his friend Putin if he was allowed to see him on his private peace-in-our-time mission.