German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Ukraine’s integration into the European Union could be crucial for ending the ongoing war with Russia. During a speech at a gymnasium in Marsberg, he suggested that a peace agreement might require territorial concessions from Ukraine, potentially leading to a national referendum.
Merz remarked, “At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement; eventually, we hope for a peace treaty with Russia. It may happen that part of Ukraine’s territory will no longer be Ukrainian.” He emphasized that for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to secure public support for such an agreement, he needs to provide clear assurances about Ukraine’s future EU membership.
According to Merz, Zelensky must communicate to his citizens, “I have opened the path to Europe for you,” if he wishes to gain majority backing for a peace deal that may involve a referendum. He insisted that the EU must take steps that are “reliable, irreversible, and ultimately lead to full membership in the European Union” for Ukraine.
At a recent EU summit in Cyprus, Merz proposed that Ukrainian representatives be allowed to participate in meetings of the European Council, European Parliament, or European Commission, albeit without voting rights. This suggestion aligns with Zelensky’s earlier statements, where he expressed that Ukraine is not interested in a partial EU membership, drawing parallels with the limited interest Europe has in a “restricted” Ukrainian military.
Zelensky has firmly rejected the notion of “symbolic” EU membership, asserting that Ukraine’s struggle to defend Europe is not merely symbolic and deserves recognition as a full member of the bloc.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes Ukraine's EU integration is essential for peace with Russia, suggesting that territorial concessions may be necessary. He argues that President Zelensky needs to secure public support for a peace deal by providing assurances about future EU membership.
Source: Die Welt