Romano Prodi, the former president of the European Commission (1999-2004) and former prime minister of Italy (1996-1998 and 2006-2008), says that the possibility of Ukraine's associated membership of the European Union is a serious geopolitical opportunity for Europe and the United States, and they should make the most of it.

Prodi wrote this in the Opinion section of The Christian Science Monitor.

"Make no mistake: Western interests and values are best served by engaging Ukraine as a solid European partner," he wrote.

According to him, now, the Western nations have the opportunity to make another pragmatic and courageous decision in the tradition of the policies that provided postwar peace and prosperity. An EU Association Agreement with Ukraine would expand trade and travel and pave the way for closer Ukrainian integration with the EU.

He said Ukraine is perfectly positioned to become a geopolitical and economic bridge between Europe and Russia. In many ways, Kyiv was the original cradle of Russia, and Ukraine still has strong ties to Russia in terms of heritage, faith, culture, and language. In fact, alongside its Ukrainian population, Ukraine boasts a large Russian-speaking population, with familial and cultural connections to Russia. But Ukraine wants to align itself with Europe and with European values, and Western nations should embrace this opportunity before it is lost.

"Having overseen the addition of eight Central and Eastern European nations in 2004 – the largest single enlargement of the EU – I remember that at the time some expressed concerns about these countries on the basis of their post-Soviet legal regimes, their economies, and their cultures. Some of these recently admitted EU members were in a worse position than Ukraine is in now," Prodi wrote.

Yet today these nations, including former Soviet bloc countries, are vital and well-established members of the EU, Prodi said.

Especially during difficult economic times, some EU members may be tempted by authoritarianism. For instance, Hungary has adopted a constitution and additional laws that endanger the free press and the independent judiciary. But EU membership serves to restrain anti-democratic impulses.

Prodi also notes that Ukraine is important to Europe as a source of economic growth and energy security, as well as a bridge to Russia.

Moreover, energy security is another advantage that Ukraine offers Western nations. Ukraine has the third-largest shale gas deposits in Europe, which are currently being developed by Shell and Chevron. This is an environmentally friendly energy source not only for Europe but also for an entire planet, the population of which will continue to grow through the middle of this century.

Prodi states that it is of economic, political, and geostrategic importance to Europe and the United States that Ukraine comes under the European umbrella of shared values and free trade.

Prodi headed the European Commission during its most enlargement when 10 new members joined it and two more states obtained membership prospects (2004).

At the same time, while in office, Prodi said that Ukraine had no prospects to bid for EU membership in the near-term outlook.