Merz proposes granting Ukraine interim status on path to EU membership - Reuters

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed giving Ukraine a direct role in European Union structures as an interim step on the path to membership in the bloc, Reuters reported, citing its own sources.

According to the agency, Merz wrote a letter to EU leaders in which he proposed granting Ukraine a new status of "associate member", which would allow Ukrainian officials to participate in EU summits and ministerial meetings, but would not give them the right to vote.

Merz also suggested that EU member states make a "political commitment" to apply the bloc's mutual assistance provisions to Ukraine in order to create a substantial security guarantee.

"My proposal reflects the special situation of Ukraine, a country at war. It will help to facilitate the ongoing peace negotiations within the framework of an agreed peace solution <...> This is important not only for the security of Ukraine, but also for the security of the entire continent," Merz's letter said.

Analysts believe that a clear path to the EU could prove vital for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to convince Ukrainians to accept any peace settlement, especially if - as is widely expected - Ukraine does not regain control of all its territory and join NATO.

However, European officials say it is unrealistic for Ukraine to achieve full membership in the bloc in the next few years, despite the fact that the 2027 date was set in a 20-point peace plan being negotiated between the United States, Ukraine and the aggressor country, russia.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, in April of this year, the Financial Times wrote that France and Germany called for Ukraine to be granted "symbolic" EU membership, which would allow Kyiv to attend the bloc's meetings, but would leave it without voting rights and access to the budget.

We will remind, according to Politico, three European Union countries opposed Ukraine's accelerated accession to the EU.