Merz proposes phased EU entry for Kyiv
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested Monday that Ukraine may need to accept territorial concessions in a future peace deal with Russia. He explicitly linked these potential losses to Kyiv's prospects for European Union membership.
Speaking in Marsberg, Merz outlined the stark realities of ending the conflict. He stated that Ukraine will eventually sign a ceasefire and, hopefully, a peace treaty with Moscow. He acknowledged that parts of Ukrainian territory might no longer remain under Kyiv's control.
Phased integration strategy
Merz argued that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must offer his citizens a clear path to Europe if he seeks to legitimize territorial concessions, potentially through a referendum. However, he dismissed Zelensky's target dates for EU accession. Entering the bloc by January 2027 or 2028 is entirely unrealistic, Merz noted.
The Chancellor reiterated that active combat and strict anti-corruption criteria currently prevent Ukraine's rapid accession. Instead, he proposed granting Ukraine observer status within European institutions. EU leaders widely supported this phased integration approach during a recent summit in Cyprus.
Financial aid and regional shifts
EU member states recently approved a €90 billion financial aid package for Ukraine. Kyiv will only repay this loan if Russia provides war reparations. Otherwise, EU states will cover the debt, excluding Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, who opted out of the guarantee mechanism.
Zelensky maintains that Ukraine deserves full, rather than symbolic, EU membership. His push follows the recent removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had blocked accession progress citing minority rights and economic concerns.
Deadlocked negotiations
US-mediated peace talks remain stalled as Washington focuses on the war against Iran. Meanwhile, Moscow demands the cession of the entire Donbas region. This includes the remaining 20% of Donetsk province and parts of the Luhansk province still held by Ukrainian forces.
Zelensky refuses to assume political responsibility for surrendering territory without a public mandate. He insists any such decision requires a national referendum, which he predicts would overwhelmingly reject ceding the Donbas.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
