The European Union was clear at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that it had to send a political message to Moscow showing that Kyiv is European. The member states agreed in record time to grant Ukraine, and also Moldova, the status of candidate countries to join the community club and open accession negotiations. But this urgent pace, added to the renewed impetus for the accession of Montenegro and Albania, has created a grievance with the rest of the candidates and has opened a rift in the heart of the Balkans.