Reuters. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed giving Ukraine a direct role in European Union structures as an interim step to EU membership that he said could help facilitate a deal to end the war triggered by Russia’s invasion, Reuters reports.
In a letter to EU leaders seen by Reuters, Merz suggested Ukraine could be granted a new status of “associate member” that would allow Ukrainian officials to take part in EU summits and ministerial meetings – but not vote in them.
The German leader also proposed that EU members make a “political commitment” to apply the bloc’s mutual assistance clause to Ukraine “in order to create a substantial security guarantee”.
But European officials say it is unrealistic for Ukraine to achieve full membership in the bloc in the next few years, even though a date of 2027 was pencilled into a 20-point peace plan discussed among the United States, Ukraine and Russia.
Merz’s proposal represents an attempt to find a middle way between a quick accession and Ukraine’s current status as a candidate country at the start of the process.
“My proposal reflects Ukraine's particular situation, a country at war. It will help facilitate the ongoing peace talks as part of a negotiated peace solution,” Merz wrote, adding this was “essential not only for Ukraine's but for the entire continent's security”.
