Merz Just Proposed Something That Could Change Ukraine’s Future in Europe

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]Merz is calling for Ukraine to move closer to the European Union. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed discussing a format of associated membership for Ukraine within the EU.

[00:00:10]According to AFP, the proposal was outlined in the letter sent to European Union leadership. The concept is not intended to replace full accession talks, but rather to grant Kyiv an intermediate status that would strengthen ties with Brussels immediately while negotiations continue.

[00:00:25]Under Merz's proposal, Ukraine could participate in meetings of the EU Council and the Council of Europe, although without voting rights. Kyiv could also potentially appoint a representative to the European Commission, likewise without a vote or official portfolio. At the same time, EU budget mechanisms would not be fully extended to Ukraine immediately, but instead integrated gradually as accession negotiations progress. The most significant part of the proposal concerns security guarantees. Merz wants Ukraine to be fully integrated into the EU's common foreign and defense policy, including provisions on mutual assistance in the event of armed aggression. According to the German Chancellor, this would become a major security for Kyiv, though it would not apply retroactively. Step by step, Ukraine appears to be moving even closer to the European Union.