The paper said the removal of Hungary's block — expected to follow the rise to power of new Prime Minister Peter Magyar — had "simultaneously revealed the reluctance of other member states that had been hiding behind the Hungarian blockade, particularly France and Germany".
Member states have already rejected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposed "reverse" accession procedure, refusing to accelerate the process. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz further complicated matters by proposing Ukraine be granted "associate member" status — a suggestion Kyiv rejected and which found no consensus among EU members, Le Figaro noted.
The newspaper highlighted Ukraine's shifting strategic position. "Ukraine is today an asset for Europe's defense. If the European Union wants to play a role on the international stage, integrating Ukraine will make it stronger in the face of the Russian threat", Ukraine's EU ambassador Vsevolod Chentsov said.
Le Figaro noted that Ukraine now produces 60% of its frontline equipment domestically, and that its drone and counter-drone expertise has drawn worldwide interest.
The paper warned, however, that pro-European sentiment in Ukraine is already eroding. "Europeans need to show creativity and quickly offer Ukrainians something concrete, otherwise there is a risk of the dynamic reversing. We must prevent a repeat of the Georgian scenario", said Olena Prokopenko of the German Marshall Fund in Brussels.
Le Figaro concluded that the EU's 27 members are aware of the risk and are trying to find a way forward.
(jh)
Source: PAP