Ukraine's Zelenskiy says proposal of associate EU membership 'unfair'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a letter to EU leaders that a German proposal to grant Ukraine "associate" membership of the European Union was "unfair" because it would leave Kyiv without a voice inside the bloc.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ‌has suggested ⁠allowing Ukraine ⁠to participate in EU meetings without a vote as an interim step to full membership of the bloc, which he said could help facilitate a deal to end the four-year-old war triggered by Russia's invasion.


In response, Zelenskiy said in his letter, ​sent late on Friday and reviewed ⁠by Reuters, ‌that the removal of Hungarian Prime ​Minister Viktor ​Orban - a staunch opponent of Ukraine's EU ⁠membership - following elections last month created the opportunity ​for substantive progress on accession talks.

"It would ​be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union, but remain voiceless," Zelenskiy said in his message. "The time is right to move forward with Ukraine's membership in a full and meaningful way."

The letter was ‌addressed to European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who holds ⁠the rotating chair of the EU Council.

Zelenskiy thanked European leaders for their support during the war, and said that Ukraine ​was acting as a bulwark against Russian aggression for the whole of the 27-nation bloc.

"We are defending Europe - fully, not partially, and not with half-measures," he said. "Ukraine deserves a fair approach and equal rights within Europe."