Germany’s Merz Backs Ukraine’s EU Accession Bid

(MENAFN) Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday threw Germany's full weight behind Ukraine's bid for European Union membership while simultaneously unveiling a sweeping expansion of bilateral military cooperation — signaling a landmark deepening of ties between Berlin and Kyiv.

Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a joint press briefing in Berlin — the first-ever German-Ukrainian government consultations — Merz was candid about the road ahead: "Germany supports this goal, even though we both know that we cannot fully achieve it in the short term."

The chancellor nevertheless framed Ukraine's EU accession as indispensable to the continent's future, stating it "would be a strategically important step toward greater security and prosperity in Europe." He pressed Kyiv to accelerate its domestic agenda, urging Ukrainian authorities "to push ahead even more vigorously with reforms in the country, particularly in areas such as the fight against corruption and the rule of law. Because the effort is worth it. Every further step in this direction is a step closer to Europe. And I want to emphasize this particularly in the mutual interest of Europe and Ukraine."
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On the military front, the two nations announced a significant upgrade in defense ties, with Merz declaring that bilateral relations would be elevated to the level of a "strategic partnership." The agreements cover a broad arsenal of support — encompassing air defense systems, long-range weapons, drone capabilities, and artillery ammunition.

Notably, the partnership will extend into the digital battlefield, incorporating an exchange of combat data systems to accelerate the development of next-generation weapons platforms.

Merz was explicit that the benefits run both ways: "What we are doing in this cooperation is not only beneficial for Ukraine's defense. It is also of particular benefit to us, for our security."

Zelenskyy's Berlin visit follows his declaration on Monday that Kyiv is actively laying the groundwork for broader European security arrangements, with the Ukrainian leader expressing confidence that his government expects to "achieve results this very week." The trip also builds on Zelenskyy's pledge last week to hold talks "in the near future" with European partners on Russian drone defense and EU accession negotiations.

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