EU Membership and Territories: Merz Outlines a Difficult Choice for Ukraine
27 April 18:09
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia could entail the loss of certain territories that “will no longer be Ukrainian.” He linked such concessions to the prospects of joining the European Union. He made these remarks on Monday, April 27, while speaking with students at the Carolus-Magnus Gymnasium in Marsberg, Reuters reports, as cited by "Komersant Ukrainian".
He expressed hope that “at some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement and then a peace treaty with Russia.”
“If President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy wants to convey this to his people and gain the support of the majority—and if he needs to hold a referendum to do so—then he must also tell the people: ‘I have opened the path to Europe for you,’” Merz added.
However, the German chancellor cautioned against overly high expectations regarding rapid accession, noting that Ukraine cannot join the bloc during a war and must first meet strict criteria, particularly regarding the rule of law and the fight against corruption.
“Zelenskyy had the idea of joining the EU on January 1, 2027. That won’t work. Even January 1, 2028, is unrealistic,” Merz believes.
On April 24, Merz stated that Ukraine’s rapid accession to the European Union is impossible at this stage, but Kyiv must integrate more actively into the bloc’s processes.
In addition, Germany and France have called for granting Ukraine “symbolic” benefits during the preparatory phase for EU accession, which would involve Kyiv’s participation in ministerial and leadership meetings without voting rights and without automatic access to the EU’s general budget.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine expects to join the European Union in 2027. He also rejected the idea of “symbolic” benefits for Ukraine, stating that Kyiv deserves full membership in the European Union.
At the same time, Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted that any country wishing to join the EU must first meet the Copenhagen criteria, and this process typically takes several years. He emphasized that Ukraine needs a clear path that will pave the way for accession in the long term. According to Merz, Ukraine’s accession to the EU as of January 1 of next year is unrealistic.
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