Colman, please answer this and I promise I will leave you alone.

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire

Of course it would be worthy of some debate. But the parallel is spurious. Russia hasn't been moving towards membership for the last half-centrury.

Yes, it would be, in fact there has been some debate before. But as Colman noted, Turkish governments aspired and asked to join for four-five decades now, that discussion progressed much more. I also add that Turkey is presently also stronger bound to the existing EU members due to the millions of Turkish guest workers and immigrants working in the EU: even if they moved in permanently, most keep connections with relatives at home, and even if they absorb a lot of local culture (contrary to what xenophobes assume) many keep various levels of cultural ties.

Regarding Russia in the EU, before the joining of the last 10, there was some serious discussion (on the Russians' part!) about partial EU membership: meaning the Kaliningrad district, which found itself with the prospect of separation from the motherland by two Schengen borders.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}