Ukraine delays industrial pollution reforms. What it means for Europe

The authors came to a clear conclusion: without transforming the economy to green principles and bringing its legislation in line with European Green directives, Ukraine cannot count on rapid rapprochement with the EU, both politically and economically.

The devastating war that Ukraine is going through right now could not serve as a cover for abandoning reforms. 

Rebuilding Ukraine during and after the war should become a unique opportunity to create a new, green economy according to the best European standards, — so that Ukrainian green energy can take its well-deserved place in European energy security framework.

But official Kyiv instead is slowing down the green agenda and is considering to postpone the implementation of European directives on the environment and climate change for several years after the war ends. 

Such a course of action may leave Ukraine not only outside the new model of energy security in Europe, but also deprive it of the prospect of full membership in the European Union for a long time.