Propagandists Are Spreading a Distorted Version of a Politico Report on Concessions to Ukraine in Reforms
Claims about Ukraine allegedly receiving “inflated ratings” on its path toward accession to the European Union do not correspond to reality. The EU openly publishes reform assessments, in which Ukraine’s progress is recorded alongside clear requirements for further advancement. All scores are assigned in accordance with actual results and the effectiveness of implemented reforms – this is confirmed not only by Politico’s reporting, but also by official reports and statements from representatives of the European Commission. This was reported by StopFake.
Russian media outlets and pro-Russian Telegram channels are spreading a distorted interpretation of an article by the U.S. publication Politico, alleging that Ukraine receives unjustifiably high ratings compared to other candidate countries, particularly Serbia. Propagandists claim that a country at war and facing corruption problems is deliberately being given a higher rating, ignoring the substance of the original article. In reality, in the Politico piece titled “Grading the EU hopefuls”, the author simply outlines each country’s prospects for EU accession and provides an analytical assessment of their progress. The article notes that Montenegro receives a grade equivalent to an “A”, Albania an “A-”, Moldova a “B+”, and Ukraine a “solid B”.
The key document determining the advancement of candidate countries is the European Commission’s annual Enlargement Report. It provides a detailed assessment of progress across 35 chapters of the negotiation framework, and it is this document that EU member states take into account when making decisions. In the 2025 report, Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine demonstrated the greatest progress and were named leaders of the process. The European Union consistently emphasizes that the accession process remains strict, fair, and highly demanding, without any concessions or political exceptions. Ukraine has been recognized for significant progress in reforms, while at the same time the EU requires intensified efforts to meet all criteria, especially in the areas of the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental freedoms.