Ukrainians believe they're fighting Russia so they can join the EU which will lead to economic prosperity, however it's apparent that the EU is not eager to accept a large extremely poor country which will be a net receiver of development funds. Eight years passed since the 2014 revolution with a pro-EU government in power and the EU hadn't even accepted Ukraine as a candidate nation in that time. The prospect of Ukraine joining NATO seems even lower.

I'm saying this is a real bastard move by the EU to not even give any kind of certainty to Ukraine of joining the EU but at the same time goading them into thinking they're fighting Russia to join the EU. Imagine if after a long and bloody war Ukraine manages to take back all of Donbass and even Crimea with Russia surrendering and then the EU says "nah, maybe in 20 years". I could see Ukrainians being so pissed they just say F it, we'll turn back to Russia then. In that case what was it all for?