German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested on Monday that Ukraine may need to accept losing control over some of its territory in a future peace deal with Russia. He stated that such concessions could be linked to Ukraine’s chances of joining the European Union. Merz mentioned during his talk at the Carolus-Magnus-Gymnasium in Marsberg that Ukraine would eventually sign a ceasefire and possibly a peace treaty, which might involve some territories no longer being Ukrainian. He indicated that if President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wants to gain public support for this, he should inform the population that it opens a path to Europe.
Merz noted that Ukraine’s progress toward EU accession has faced obstacles from Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, but recent election results have raised hopes for advancement. Ukraine currently holds the status of an official EU candidate. However, Merz warned that rapid accession is unrealistic while Ukraine remains at war and emphasized the need to meet strict criteria related to rule of law and corruption. He dismissed Zelenskiy’s goal of joining the EU by January 1, 2027, as unfeasible, suggesting instead that Ukraine could have observer roles in EU institutions. Additionally, the EU recently approved a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine to support its needs through 2027, but there is still division within the bloc regarding the speed of accession talks.
With information from Reuters
