Merz does not believe Ukraine will join the EU in the coming years
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine will likely have to make difficult decisions in a future peace agreement with Russia. In particular, he suggested that the issue of territories could become part of the negotiations. At the same time, he said, Ukraine should not expect to join the EU anytime soon. This was reported by Reuters.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that in the future, Ukraine may face a difficult choice when concluding a peace agreement with Russia. According to him, it cannot be ruled out that some territories may remain outside Kyiv’s control.
“At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement, and then a peace treaty. And it may happen that part of the territory will no longer be Ukrainian,” Merz said. He also noted that if such decisions are made, the government will have to explain them to the public. In particular, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said, may need the support of citizens, possibly even through a referendum.
Separately, Merz commented on the prospects of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. He stated outright that there would be no rapid accession. According to him, even dates like 2027 or 2028 seem unrealistic. “It won’t work. Ukraine cannot become an EU member during a war,” he emphasized.
The chancellor also noted that for accession, the country must meet a series of conditions—ranging from reforms to the fight against corruption and adherence to the principles of the rule of law.
At the same time, Merz proposed an interim option—granting Ukraine observer status in EU institutions. According to him, this idea already has support among European leaders and was discussed during an informal meeting in Cyprus.
His statement came against the backdrop of the ongoing war and discussions about Ukraine’s future—both in terms of security and in the context of European integration.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on the results of a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Headquarters, where three key issues were discussed.
