Merz allowed territorial concessions to Ukraine for the sake of EU membership

In order to join the European Union (EU), Ukraine may have to accept that part of its territory may remain outside Kiev's control as part of a future peace agreement with Russia. This was announced on April 27 by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

"At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement, and at some point, hopefully, a peace treaty with Russia. Then, perhaps, some of the territories will cease to be Ukrainian," the Reuters news agency quotes him as saying.

Merz also said that in order for Ukraine to join the EU as soon as possible, President Vladimir Zelensky will need to hold a referendum, which will raise the issue of the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) from the new territories of the Russian Federation occupied by them.

"If Zelensky wants to convey this to his people and gain the support of the majority, and he needs to hold a referendum on this, then he must simultaneously tell the people: 'I have opened the way for you to Europe,'— Merz added.

The agency recalls that the process of Kiev's accession to the EU was blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, but his defeat in the elections in early April gave Kiev hope that the country would be able to move on to the next stage. Currently, Ukraine has the status of an official candidate for the EU, the authors of the material specify. However, Merz nevertheless reminded that "one should not hope for an early entry" into the union, since military operations are still taking place on the territory of Ukraine.

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Following the EU summit in Cyprus on April 24, Merz indicated that Ukraine's immediate accession to the European Union (EU) was impossible. He added that he had repeatedly discussed this issue with Zelensky and suggested taking gradual steps towards this. For example, to provide an opportunity for Ukraine to participate in meetings of the European Council and the European Parliament without the right to vote.

On April 26, the British news portal Unherd reported that disagreements over further support for Ukraine were worsening in Europe. Ukraine's accession to the EU is also an equally pressing issue. The publication emphasizes that by expressing constant solidarity, the association is showing "blatant hypocrisy" because it cannot offer Kiev more than facilitated membership, which can be equated to a polite refusal.