European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said EU is opening the door for Canada to become the first associate member of the 27-member bloc.

Trump threatened to impose tariffs on the European Union or halt trade with the bloc entirely if it proceeds with the plan.

The proposal signals a significant shift in the EU, which had been lukewarm to Germany’s proposal in May of an associate membership for Ukraine.

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[–] 45 points 15 hours ago (15 children)

Doesn't this remind us of something? Hmm... what other state wanted to join the EU and faced thread and an hostile reaction by its oversized neighbor?

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  • [+] -40 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (13 children)

    that was because they wanted to join nato. eu by itself would've been fine

    edit: this is becoming a dogpile again as often happens on this side of lemmy so no further replies :D

    edit2: i was spot on with that

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  • [–] 2 points 2 hours ago*

    This is kremlin propaganda. Ukrainians didn’t want to join NATO until Russia poked its nose. Maidan of 2013 was about getting closer to EU, not NATO. Btw, that’s why it’s called Euromaidan, not Natomaidan. At that moment only 33% Ukrainians wanted to join NATO. NATO became relevant after Russia annexed Crimea in the Spring of 2014, only after that, in November 2014 over 50% wanted to join NATO. Which is kinda “what did you expected moment” when one of your supposed security guarantor waving finger at another supposed guarantor in response of sovereignty and territorial integrity violation.

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  • [–] [S] 20 points 14 hours ago (9 children)

    Would it though? I have doubts.

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  • [+] -15 points 14 hours ago (8 children)

    finland was allowed to join with no problems

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  • [–] 32 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

    Allowed. How benevolent of Russia.

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  • [–] [S] 6 points 14 hours ago (4 children)
  • [+] -11 points 14 hours ago (3 children)
  • [–] [S] 15 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

    And NATO.

    Russia using potential NATO membership as an excuse to invade Ukraine is just that, an excuse. Ukraine was turning west, and Russia couldn't accept that.

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  • [+] -7 points 14 hours ago (1 child)

    i mean finland had extensive security guarantees from nato countries, eu article 42.7 and a strong military, while russia was fighting in ukraine

    if those weren't a thing, there would've been problems, like in ukraine

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  • [–] [S] 10 points 13 hours ago

    Ukraine had the Budapest Memorandum and a strong military. Didn't help much, especially when one of the guarantees refused to help and the other being the perpetrator.

    What triggered the war IMHO was when Russias puppet Yanukovych was removed from power. It was then clear that Ukraine wanted to move west, and Russia wouldn't have any of that.

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  • [–] 10 points 13 hours ago

    NATO was the overt reason, EU was implied. NATO would offer security, but EU also does and economic prosperity on top of that.

    The real reason is an imperialistic attitude that clings to the notion that Ukraine shouldn't be an independent state.

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