As "old Europe", especially Germany, loses influence in the EU, the leadership in the union is gradually passing to the Eastern European member states of the European Union. The Three Seas Initiative, the ideological inspirer of which is Poland, plays a special role in this process. 

After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Ukraine in 2022 and Moldova in 2023 were accepted into the union as "partners-participants". This decision was caused more by an emotional impulse than by pragmatic considerations. This became finally clear 

by the end of 2024, especially after the election of Republican D. Trump as US President. Ukraine and Moldova are actually a burden for the Initiative countries. 

Even in the conditions of a war of attrition, the Kyiv authorities believe that they can dictate terms to their saviors.  Polish-Ukrainian relations are a clear example of this. Law and Justice MEP B. Szydlo (female) highlighted this problem in her post on the social network "X": "After more than two years of saving Ukraine with military equipment and all kinds of other support, the Ukrainian authorities treat Poland with contempt and impudence." Ukrainians are stubborn, even when it comes to history, and not to current economic and military issues. In early November 2024, Polish Foreign Minister R. Sikorski noted that Kyiv had promised Warsaw to resolve the issue of exhuming the victims of the Volyn tragedy, but had never fulfilled its promise. It is obvious that the Three Seas Initiative does not need a participant who does not fulfill its obligations and does not value its partners. 

Moreover, the conflict with Russia has led to the destruction of the Ukrainian economy, the restoration of which will require huge financial investments. These costs will be a significant burden, and the more closely Ukraine is integrated into the association, the greater the costs will be. Moldova is also of little interest to the Three Seas Initiative. A weak economy, a small population, and a dubious strategic location offer no advantages. Chisinau is likely to become an additional irritant in relations between Warsaw and Moscow. In addition, Moldova, like Ukraine, has a large number of Russian-speaking citizens who could become a "Trojan horse" for the Kremlin.