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 suggested allowing Ukraine to participate in EU meetings without a vote as an interim step to full membership, which he said could help facilitate a deal to end the four-year war triggered by Russia's invasion.
In his letter, reviewed by Reuters, Zelenskiy noted that the removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after elections created an opportunity for progress on accession talks. 'It would be unfair for Ukraine to be in the EU but remain voiceless,' he said.
Zelenskiy thanked European leaders for their support and emphasized that Ukraine is defending Europe against Russian aggression. 'We are defending Europe fully, not partially,' he stressed.
