German Chancellor Backs EU Associate Membership for Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged the European Union to consider granting Ukraine an “associate membership” status while also reviving diplomatic efforts with Russia to help end the war, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

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The proposal comes as the EU debates whether it should take a more active role in negotiations with Moscow, amid stalled U.S.-brokered talks and Washington’s growing focus on the conflict involving Iran.

Associate membership proposal

Under Merz’s plan, Ukraine would be allowed to participate in EU meetings without voting rights. Kyiv would also gain non-voting representation within the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Merz argued that the arrangement would go beyond the current EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and should not be viewed as a diluted form of membership. He also suggested introducing a “snap-back mechanism” that could suspend the arrangement if Ukraine failed to maintain democratic standards.

Last month, Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen said formal accession talks with Ukraine should begin “without delay.” Merz also backed the opening of those negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed signs of progress this week, saying Kyiv had fulfilled all necessary conditions for advancement in the accession process.

Obstacles to EU accession

Countries seeking EU membership must align their laws with the bloc’s standards across 35 policy chapters, covering areas from judicial reform to agriculture and fisheries. Every stage of the process requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states.

Hungary has so far blocked the start of negotiations with Ukraine, although that position could shift following the formation of a new government in Budapest earlier this month.

Some EU officials are expected to resist Merz’s proposal, arguing that membership should remain strictly merit-based and only be granted once all conditions are fully met.

However, the German leader said the associate membership model could also apply to other countries seeking EU entry, particularly states in the Western Balkans. EU leaders are due to discuss enlargement issues at a summit next month.

Renewed debate over Russia talks

Merz said closer EU integration for Ukraine could support efforts to reach a negotiated settlement with Russia, describing such diplomacy as vital for European security.

Ukraine views EU membership as an important long-term security guarantee after the war. Kyiv still considers NATO membership its strongest possible safeguard, but the Trump administration has ruled out that option for now, while some allies remain reluctant to admit a country still engaged in active conflict.

As U.S.-led mediation efforts struggle to make progress, European officials have increasingly discussed whether the EU should launch its own parallel diplomatic initiative with Russia.

Earlier this month, Costa said Europe would eventually need direct talks with Moscow to address broader security concerns, while stressing that such efforts should not undermine American negotiations.

Speculation has since grown over who could represent Europe in potential talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Names mentioned in European media include former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi.

Putin has reportedly suggested former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a possible interlocutor, though the idea has received little support in Germany due to Schröder’s longstanding ties to Russia’s energy sector and his relationship with Putin.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed the suggestion, saying it would be unwise to let Putin effectively choose Europe’s negotiator.

Zelenskyy has also called for a stronger European presence in any peace process, saying Europe must have “a strong voice and presence” in negotiations.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 22 May 2026