Zelensky rejects Merz proposal for special EU status for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated his demand for full European Union membership after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed a special EU status for Kiev.

“It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union but remain without a voice,” Zelensky wrote in a letter to EU leaders seen by dpa.

He said the enlargement process was taking too long and stressed that Europe needed to move faster instead of keeping Ukraine “in a waiting room” until full membership is granted.

Merz recently proposed granting Ukraine a special status as an EU “associate member,” arguing that rapid and full accession was unrealistic under the circumstances.

Berlin views Merz's proposal as a political bridge towards eventual membership.

“Germany is and remains Ukraine’s most important supporter. We also see ourselves as paving the way for the country’s EU membership. An honest debate is now needed. Our proposal is intended to open that necessary discussion,” German government sources said on Saturday in response to Zelensky’s letter.

“Full membership remains the goal. Substantively, the focus now is primarily on opening the negotiation chapters. In that respect, there is a high degree of alignment with the views of the Ukrainian president,” the sources added.

In post on X on Saturday, Zelensky again pressed for rapid full membership.

"There can be no complete European project without Ukraine, and Ukraine’s place in the European Union must also be complete – full and equal," he said.

"It is important to make meaningful progress in the negotiations. It is important to work at one hundred percent for security and for our people."

Ukraine received the status EU candidate in June 2022, just months after Russia's full-scale invasion.