Merz Refutes Zelensky’s Demand for 2027 Accession Date to EU

(MENAFN) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has dismissed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s call for a firm 2027 deadline for joining the European Union, saying the accession process will require “several years” and depends on Ukraine first meeting the bloc’s formal standards, according to statements made in Berlin.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, Merz offered a cautious assessment of Ukraine’s EU aspirations at a time when the country remains at war with Russia and faces growing unease within the EU over governance and institutional readiness.

“Ukraine’s accession on January 1, 2027, is out of the question. It is not possible,” Merz said. “All candidates – including Ukraine – who wish to join the European Union must meet the Copenhagen criteria.”

Those criteria include the establishment of stable democratic institutions, a viable market economy, and full alignment with the EU’s extensive legal framework. Merz stressed that although Ukraine has been granted a membership perspective, the path toward integration is a “long-term process.” He added that priority should currently be given to peace efforts, pointing to US-mediated negotiations taking place in Abu Dhabi.

Zelensky has recently stepped up his push for accelerated EU membership, portraying it as an essential security guarantee for his country. Following talks with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, he reiterated his demand in a social media post, calling for “a concrete date – 2027.”

Merz’s position aligns with broader skepticism among several European leaders. Stocker himself has voiced doubts about a rapid accession track, saying he is “not a fan of the fast lane.”

Opposition has been even stronger from Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has pledged to block any fast-tracked entry for Ukraine. He has argued that such a move would amount to Brussels “importing the war” as well as “corruption.”

Concerns over corruption were underscored this week after Ukrainian prosecutors disclosed that 41 sitting members of parliament are being investigated over an alleged illegal vote-rigging operation. The revelation follows another major corruption case involving Timur Mindich, a close associate of Zelensky, which resulted in several high-profile resignations.

Orban referenced reports of a golden toilet allegedly discovered in Mindich’s apartment, remarking that aid funds are “better off with Hungarian families than in the bathroom of a Ukrainian oligarch.”

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