Zelensky calls Merz’s proposal for Ukraine’s associate EU membership “unfair”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal to grant Ukraine “associate” EU membership status in a letter to European Union leaders, calling it “unfair.”

Reuters reports this.

In the letter, Zelensky insists on the country’s full membership in the bloc rather than an intermediate status.

“It would be unfair if Ukraine were present in the European Union but remained voiceless. Now is the time to move forward toward full and meaningful membership for Ukraine,” Zelensky said.

As an argument in favor of accelerating negotiations, Zelensky pointed to the electoral defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had opposed Ukraine’s EU membership. In the Ukrainian president’s view, this has created an opportunity to negotiate the country’s accession to the bloc.

Zelensky also thanked European leaders for their support in the letter and stated that Kyiv “defends Europe in full measure” and therefore “deserves a fair approach and equal rights in Europe.” The letter was addressed to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who currently holds the presidency of the EU Council.

On May 21, Merz proposed granting Ukraine a special status as an intermediate step toward EU membership. On the same day, Die Zeit reported that European leaders had urged Zelensky to conduct a full investigation into a corruption scandal linked to his former chief of staff Andriy Yermak as a condition for advancing toward EU membership.

On May 29, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that the country’s EU accession process needs to be accelerated. Earlier, in early May, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka noted that Kyiv expects to reach the signing of an EU accession treaty in 2027.