German Chancellor Merz has proposed granting Ukraine a form of “associate” EU membership that would allow Kyiv to participate in key European institutions while full accession talks continue.
Merz argued the proposal would bring Ukraine closer to Europe immediately as full membership remains years away due to political and legal hurdles.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed making Ukraine an “associate member” of the EU without voting rights, while Kyiv goes through the lengthy process of joining fully.
The plan — first floated by Merz with EU counterparts last month — would see Ukraine’s leader attend the bloc’s summit but not be able to cast a vote.
Kyiv’s progress was blocked by Hungary’s nationalist former premier Viktor Orban, but his ouster by rival Peter Magyar has raised hopes Kyiv could now move forward.
The German leader insisted he still wants Ukraine to eventually become a “full member” and urged launching “all negotiation clusters” immediately. “It would not be a membership light,” he wrote.
Ukraine sees membership of the EU as vital to its future recovery and security, as the United States has essentially closed the door on it joining NATO. (AFP)
