General · 23 May 2026
Zelenskyy rejects Merz EU membership plan
The Presidential Office of Ukraine via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Ukraine’s EU path matters for long-term security and its wartime position. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal for “associate membership” without voting rights on Saturday. Merz had suggested this status in a letter to EU leaders as a step before full accession. Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s presence in the bloc must be complete, with full rights and membership.
Reported by Euronews · How we write briefs