Germany and Ukraine clash over Kyiv's EU membership timeline and terms
Friedrich Merz said there is no prospect of Ukraine joining the European Union in the immediate future, but suggested Kyiv could be granted closer involvement in the bloc's activities as an interim step.
Speaking after an EU summit in Nicosia, Merz said: "It is clear to everyone that an immediate accession of Ukraine to the EU is, of course, not possible." He added that Germany would support "closer integration into the European institutions," including allowing Ukraine to participate in meetings such as European Council sessions without voting rights.
However, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea of partial or symbolic integration. "We are defending common European values. I believe that we deserve full-fledged EU membership," he said, declaring Ukraine "does not need symbolic EU membership."
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