Proposal to grant Ukraine associate membership in the European Union ‘unfair’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a letter addressed to European Union leaders that the German proposal to grant Ukraine the status of an “associate member” in the bloc is “unfair” because it would deprive Kiev of the right to express its opinion within it.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had proposed allowing Ukraine to participate in European Union meetings without the right to vote as a temporary step towards full membership in the Union.

He said that this might help facilitate reaching an agreement to end the war that has been going on for four years.

Zelensky sent his letter late on Friday evening, and Reuters reviewed it, in which he said that the removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban from power – a strong opponent of Ukraine’s accession to the bloc – following the elections that took place last month, provided the opportunity to make substantial progress in the accession talks.

“It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union, but remain without a voice… It is time to move forward with Ukraine’s accession in a full and meaningful way,” Zelensky said in his letter.

The letter is addressed to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Cypriot President, Nikos Christodoulides, who holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

He said, “We defend Europe – completely, not partially, nor with incomplete measures… Ukraine deserves fair treatment and equal rights within Europe.”