German Chancellor Rejects Fast-Track EU Membership for Ukraine
His remarks came after an EU summit in Cyprus, where he emphasized that “immediate accession” for Ukraine is not feasible. He suggested that closer ties could still be developed through partial integration, such as allowing participation in EU institutions without granting voting rights.
The comments follow earlier indications from EU officials that initial conditions may be in place for Ukraine to begin the first phase of membership discussions in the near future.
At the same time, senior EU figures including Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen have called for the immediate “opening of negotiation clusters” as part of Ukraine’s accession process.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea of partial integration, insisting on full membership. He has argued that Ukraine is “defending common European values” and has repeatedly pushed for a clear accession timeline, suggesting it should happen by 2027.
Merz, however, has previously dismissed that target as unrealistic, stressing that Ukraine must first strengthen its institutions, stabilize its economy, and address corruption before joining the bloc.
Von der Leyen has also resisted setting a fixed timeline, stating earlier that specific dates for accession are not feasible from the EU’s side.
Ukraine’s membership bid continues to face resistance from some EU countries, including Slovakia and Hungary, particularly under the outgoing government of Viktor Orban. Critics argue that admitting Ukraine could risk escalating tensions with Russia and place additional strain on the EU’s economy.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
