ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ukraine–European Union relations

Okay kiddo, so Ukraine is a country that is located in Europe. It is not part of the European Union (EU) which is a group of countries that have agreed to work together on certain things, like trade and laws.

Now, Ukraine really wants to be friends with the EU and work closely with them. They want to join the EU to benefit from the opportunities that the EU provides for its member countries.

However, there have been some challenges with this friendship. One of the main challenges is that Russia, which is another country, is not happy about it. Russia used to have a lot of control over Ukraine, and they don't want Ukraine to become friends with the EU.

So, there have been some arguments and fights between Ukraine, the EU, and Russia. Ukraine is trying its best to work with the EU and show that they are ready to be part of the group. The EU is also trying to support Ukraine in its efforts to become a member, but they also have to make sure that Ukraine is meeting certain standards before they can fully join.

Overall, it's a bit like trying to make friends with someone, but there's someone else who doesn't want you to be friends. Ukraine and the EU are working hard to overcome these obstacles and build a strong relationship.