Zelenskiy rejects ‘associate status’, pushes for full EU membership

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has criticised a German proposal for “associate membership” of the European Union, saying it would leave Kyiv without a meaningful voice inside the bloc, according to a letter to EU leaders reviewed by Reuters.

The proposal, suggested by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, would allow Ukraine to participate in EU meetings without voting rights as an interim step towards full membership, amid ongoing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

In his letter sent late Friday, Zelenskiy said the idea was “unfair” and argued that Ukraine should be granted full and equal participation in the EU decision-making process.

“It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union, but remain voiceless,” he said, adding that the time had come to advance Ukraine’s accession talks in a “full and meaningful way.”

The letter was addressed to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who currently holds the rotating EU Council presidency.

Zelenskiy also pointed to recent political developments in Hungary, referring to the expected departure of Prime Minister Viktor Orban after elections, saying it created an opportunity for progress on Ukraine’s membership bid.

The Ukrainian leader thanked EU partners for their support during the war and said Ukraine was playing a central role in defending Europe against Russian aggression.

“We are defending Europe – fully, not partially, and not with half-measures,” he said, adding that Ukraine deserved equal rights within the bloc.

Ukraine formally applied for EU membership shortly after Russia’s invasion in 2022, and accession talks remain a key political objective for Kyiv as the war enters its fourth year.