German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested today that Ukraine might have to accept that parts of its territory remain outside Kiev's control in a future peace deal with Russia, linking such concessions to the country's prospects of joining the European Union.
"At some point Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement; at some point, hopefully, a peace agreement with Russia. Then it could happen that part of Ukraine's territory is no longer Ukrainian," Merz told students at the Karolus-Magnus Gymnasium in Marsberg, a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, on Monday.
"If President (Volodymyr) Zelensky wants to communicate this to his own population and secure a majority for it, and if he has to call a referendum, then at the same time he has to tell the people: 'I have opened the way to Europe for you,'" Merz added.
Kiev's progress towards EU membership has been blocked by Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, but his defeat in an election earlier this month has raised hopes that the process could move to the next stage. Ukraine currently has the status of an official candidate for EU membership.
Merz, however, warned against raising hopes for quick accession, saying Ukraine cannot enter the bloc while it is at war and must first meet strict criteria, including those related to the rule of law and the fight against corruption.
"Zelensky had the idea that Ukraine would join the EU on January 1, 2027. That won't work. Even January 1, 2028, is not realistic," said Merz.
He proposed transitional steps, such as an observer role for Ukraine in EU institutions, which he said were widely endorsed by European leaders at a summit last week in Cyprus, which Zelensky attended.
The European Union last week approved a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine, covering most of its needs until 2027, but the bloc remains divided over the pace of accession negotiations.
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