Ukraine will not accept a format that excludes it from voting in the EU
Ukraine has rejected the idea of “associated” EU membership without voting rights, which had been discussed in European political circles. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that such a format is unfair and does not reflect Ukraine’s role in European security. This was reported by Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted strongly to the proposal for a possible “limited” format for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, which would entail participation without voting rights, and emphasized that such a model contradicts the very logic of European integration, where all participants have equal rights and obligations, especially when one of the countries is already effectively serving as the continent’s defender during wartime.
According to Reuters, in a letter to EU leaders, Zelenskyy called the idea of granting Ukraine “associated” member status without full influence over decision-making unfair, thereby responding to earlier discussions regarding German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s initiative for an interim integration model. “It would be unfair if Ukraine were present in the European Union but remained without a vote,” the president emphasized, addressing European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides.
In his address, Zelenskyy also stressed that Ukraine is already, in fact, part of European security, as it is holding back Russian aggression on Europe’s eastern flank, and therefore must receive not symbolic but real political representation in the future EU. “The time has come to move forward on the issue of Ukraine’s membership in a full-fledged and meaningful way,” he noted, adding that political processes within the EU may change, particularly following potential shifts in the positions of individual member states.
Separately, the president thanked European partners for their support during the war, emphasizing that Ukraine is not a passive recipient of aid, but a state that directly influences the security of the entire continent. “We are defending Europe—fully, not partially, and not with half-measures. Ukraine deserves fair treatment and equal rights in Europe,” Zelenskyy concluded, outlining Kyiv’s position on future EU membership.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly proposed introducing a new “associated membership” format for Ukraine within the EU until it obtains full membership status.
The European Union has moved to the practical stage of preparing Montenegro’s accession treaty. The country continues on its path toward EU integration and has declared its intention to become a member by 2028.
Ukraine hopes that the European Union will open all six negotiation clusters regarding the country’s accession this year and also anticipates the possibility of closing at least one of them by the end of the year.
Ukraine may temporarily forgo some of the benefits of EU membership to accelerate the accession process. Taras Kachka noted that such a step would help the country integrate into the EU more quickly.
