Germany's Merz pitches 'associate' EU membership for Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed an 'associate member' status for Ukraine in the EU as a step towards full membership. This status would allow Ukrainian officials to participate in EU meetings without voting rights, aiming to support peace negotiations amid the ongoing war. Merz's proposal seeks to balance Ukraine's current candidate status with the need for a clear path to EU integration.
- ▪Merz's proposal aims to facilitate a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
- ▪The associate member status would allow Ukraine to participate in EU summits without voting.
- ▪European officials consider full EU membership for Ukraine unrealistic in the near future.
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Germany's Merz pitches 'associate' EU membership for UkraineSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attend a press conference on the day of the German-Ukrainian government consultations at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, April 14, 2026. REUTERS/Liesa JohannssenPublished May 21, 2026, 12:04 PMUpdated May 21, 2026, 12:04 PMBRUSSELS, May 21 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed giving Ukraine a direct role in European Union structures as an interim step to EU membership that he said could help facilitate a deal to end the war triggered by Russia’s invasion.In a letter to EU leaders seen by Reuters, Merz suggested Ukraine could be granted a new status of “associate member” that would…
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