German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested a phased accession process for Ukraine to the EU, emphasizing that immediate accession is not possible.

At the end of the European summit in Cyprus, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed a phased process for Ukraine's accession to the European Union, acknowledging that immediate accession is not feasible. Merz emphasized the importance of a rapprochement strategy that would allow Ukraine to participate in the meetings of European institutions without voting rights, thus facilitating gradual integration into European political structures.

He mentioned that a critical aspect of this process will be negotiating Ukraine's access to the community market, suggesting an initial partial access. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted, stating that Ukraine deserves full EU membership, not a symbolic one, highlighting its real contribution to defending Europe against the Russian invasion. Zelensky requested clarifications regarding a date for accession but was informed that this depends on meeting the necessary criteria.