RELATED:Opposition to Ukraine’s EU Membership Hits Record High in PolandKiev submitted its official application for EU membership on February 28, 2022, just four days after the start of the military conflict. For leaders in Kiev, obtaining EU membership is a vital security necessity. For Ukraine, the pursuit of EU membership acts as an institutional security substitute. The Russian government’s stance toward Ukraine’s EU membership has evolved. However, as the EU stepped up direct military funding, economic sanctions, and security assistance for Kiev, the line between economic integration and geopolitical opposition narrowed.