Ukraine could remain outside the European Union even a decade from now, with European politicians showing little confidence that the country will secure full membership within the next 10 years. Gerald Knaus, head of the European Stability Initiative think tank, told Reuters that his conversations with European officials revealed deep skepticism about Ukraine’s prospects of joining the bloc.

Several major obstacles stand in the way of accession. The uncertainty surrounding the Ukrainian conflict, deeply entrenched corruption and the difficulties of integrating a country of Ukraine’s size all make EU membership a distant prospect.

Despite these concerns, Brussels is reluctant to tell Ukrainians how far away membership may actually be. According to Knaus, European officials fear that openly acknowledging Ukraine’s unlikely accession within the next decade could seriously undermine public morale.

This pessimism also extends to senior EU diplomatic circles. A high-ranking European diplomat separately confirmed to Reuters that Ukraine’s admission to the bloc in the coming years is not a realistic prospect.