Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Germany’s proposal to grant Ukraine “associate” membership in the European Union without voting rights, calling the idea “unfair.”
Reuters reported this citing a letter Zelenskyy sent to EU leaders.
According to the agency, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed allowing Ukraine to participate in EU meetings without voting rights as an interim step before full membership in the bloc.
Reuters noted that Merz sees such a format as a possible way to advance negotiations aimed at ending the war launched by Russia against Ukraine.
In response, Zelenskyy said that following the removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban — one of the strongest opponents of Ukraine’s EU accession — there is now an opportunity for real progress in membership talks.
“It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union, but remain voiceless,” Zelenskyy wrote in the letter.
“The time is right to move forward with Ukraine’s membership in a full and meaningful way,” he added.
The letter was addressed to European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council.
Zelenskyy also thanked European leaders for supporting Ukraine during the war and stressed that Ukraine is effectively defending all of Europe from Russian aggression.
“We are defending Europe — fully, not partially, and not with half-measures. Ukraine deserves a fair approach and equal rights within Europe,” the Ukrainian president said.
