Conflict, identity, and EU accession obstacles in the framework of case studies

This chapter analyses how ongoing conflict and domestic identity struggles complicate Ukraine’s EU accession. It explores language and minority issues, competing historical narratives, and security dilemmas rooted in unresolved territorial disputes. It critically engages with European Commission assessments and compares Ukraine’s internal obstacles to those faced by Western Balkan countries. In order to have a clear picture of a country’s economic prospects and to answer the question of whether Ukraine will stay the eternal promise or really will start using its great location and rich base of resources, all the ongoing internal processes need to be analysed and understood. Every aspect is given to become a regional hegemon and an excellent example for other post-Soviet countries, but there are several obstacles yet to overcome. In this section, these aspects are going to be assessed.