The German Chancellor has proposed a plan for Ukraine's accession to the EU
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine’s full membership in the European Union will take time, so he is initiating a path of gradual integration through intermediate stages.
Deutsche Welle reports on the details of the new rapprochement strategy, which involves involving Kyiv in the work of European institutions even before official accession.
According to the head of the German government, immediate accession is currently impossible, but Ukraine could obtain observer status in the European Parliament and the European Commission without voting rights. Merz emphasized that this approach should serve as a “bridge” to future membership and accelerate the negotiation process depending on the success of reforms. The chancellor identified the full opening of the EU’s internal market as the most challenging aspect of integration, which, in his view, should also proceed step by step. At the same time, he noted that the experience with customs union has already laid a certain foundation for further economic cooperation.
The German leader’s proposals received significant support from his colleagues during the European Council meeting in Cyprus. In parallel with the Ukrainian issue, the EU plans to intensify the integration of the Western Balkan countries to maintain the momentum of the bloc’s expansion. Merz emphasized that phased inclusion in specific areas of European policy will help Ukraine adapt to EU standards even before the final agreement is signed. This format of cooperation will allow Kyiv to be part of the European political space, despite the length of formal procedures.
This initiative reflects Berlin’s desire to strike a balance between the geopolitical necessity of expansion and the internal resilience of EU institutions in the face of threats from Russia. The specific timelines for implementing each stage will depend on the progress of negotiations and the stabilization of the security situation in the region. Thus, Germany is proposing a practical action plan instead of years of waiting in the EU’s “waiting room.” Further discussions on this strategy will continue at the level of the relevant ministries of the bloc’s member states. Merz’s policy aims to ensure that Ukraine feels like part of the European family today, despite the complexity of bureaucratic processes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. They discussed Ukraine’s further progress toward the European Union, as well as joint actions with partners in the near future.
Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine’s next steps on the path to the European Union with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The conversation focused on decisions that could impact both Ukraine’s economic stability and the EU’s political stance on the war.
