In this episode of Peace Matters, we discuss the historic opening of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova in 2026 and the dramatic shift in the European Union’s approach to enlargement.
For years, the expansion of the Union was stalled by hesitation and "enlargement fatigue," but the geopolitical realities of 2026 have forced a breakthrough. Now, the EU faces the unprecedented challenge of integrating a nation still at war, raising fundamental questions about security guarantees, legal borders, and the very definition of European sovereignty.
How can Ukraine realistically reform its judiciary and strengthen the rule of law under the constraints of martial law? We also examine the "veto problem" and how political shifts in Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic are reshaping the path to membership. Finally, we explore the future of millions of Ukrainian refugees and whether Kyiv is prepared to accept a "phased" membership in exchange for a faster seat at the table.
Guests:
Anastasiia Hraur is a Ukrainian professional specializing in international relations, political science, project management, and international education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and a Master’s degree in International Relations from Andrássy University Budapest. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at Andrássy University Budapest and the University for Continuing Education Krems.
Her professional experience includes work in government institutions, international organizations, research centres, and the private sector. She has worked with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, Eurac Research, the United Nations Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, and Hoffmann-La Roche. In 2026, she completed an internship at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna.
Since 2025, Anastasiia has worked as a Credential Officer at ENIC NARIC Austria within OeAD, where she assesses foreign higher education qualifications and analyses international education systems.
Stepan Rusyn is the Coordinator of the German-Ukrainian Partnership Program at the Transatlantic Dialogue Center. In this role, he manages projects that promote German-Ukrainian cooperation, organizes visits by German politicians, analysts, journalists, youth activists, and business leaders to Ukraine, and coordinates advocacy events in Germany. He also contributes to the Center’s research activities on German foreign and internal policy, transatlantic relations, and European security.
Before joining the Center, he worked at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions under the Office of the President of Ukraine, and the Office of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine. He also completed an internship at the NATO Representation to Ukraine.
His analyses have been published by leading German think tanks, including Zentrum Liberale Moderne, Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft, German Council on Foreign Relations, and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.
He has provided commentary for German-language media outlets such as Die Zeit, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Table.Briefings, Behörden Spiegel, RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, and Europäische Sicherheit & Technik.
He is currently based in Germany, where he is pursuing his doctorate at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), focusing on Germany’s foreign policy towards Central and Eastern Europe. He holds a BA and an MA in International Relations, with a specialization in Strategic and Security Studies, from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
Moderation:
Gjergj Loka, Project Coordinator at the IIP.
The episode was recorded on 26 June 2026.