German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine's accession to the European Union is not a matter of the coming years, and a future peace agreement with Russia may involve difficult decisions regarding territories. He said this during a speech at a gymnasium in the city of Marsberg, UNN reports.
According to Merz, Ukraine's membership in the EU in 2027 or 2028 is an unrealistic scenario; however, Kyiv must have a clear European perspective.
Ukraine must receive a clear European perspective. We must not lose it to Russia
He noted that the process of Ukraine's integration into the EU will be lengthy and will require the step-by-step fulfillment of criteria, but a clear roadmap is necessary for this.
The European Union must remain open and provide Ukraine with a real prospect of membership
Separately, the Chancellor suggested that in the future, a peace agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation could include difficult compromises regarding the territorial issue.
At the same time, he did not specify which exact mechanisms or conditions might be involved.