Zelensky rejects German proposal for Ukraine’s ‘associate’ EU membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent a letter to EU leaders – European Council President Antonio Costa, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides – denouncing German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s suggestion that Ukraine be given “associate” membership of the European Union. Zelensky said the plan would be “unfair” because it would allow Kyiv to attend EU Council and Commission meetings without any voting rights, stating: “It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union but remain voiceless.”

He urged the bloc to move forward with full and meaningful accession, thanking European leaders for their support during the four‑year war with Russia and noting that the recent removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a strong opponent of Ukrainian EU entry, creates an opportunity for substantive progress in accession negotiations. The German proposal, presented as a transitional step to aid peace talks, would let Ukraine participate in meetings of the European Council, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament without a vote, while also offering security guarantees. Zelensky rejected this interim status, insisting that Ukraine deserves equal rights and a full voice within Europe.