Merz: War Must End for Ukraine's EU Entry; Peace May Involve Territorial Adjustments
German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine's EU accession is unrealistic by 2027 and that peace may require accepting territorial losses.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 08:41
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 09:01 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 10:11 (1h 9m after Collected)
German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz stated today that the EU cannot accept a country at war. He argued that Ukraine's goal of joining the EU by 2027 is unrealistic, and even 2028 would be difficult to achieve. Merz emphasized that the war must end before accession can happen, and Ukraine must also meet EU standards regarding the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts.
While Merz had previously told Donald Trump that the decision on Ukrainian territory belongs to Ukrainians, he noted during a student event that a future peace treaty with Russia might mean some territories no longer belong to Ukraine. He suggested that as a transitional step, Ukrainian representatives could participate in EU meetings without voting rights. Merz's remarks were made during an 'EU Project Day' event at Carolus-Magnus-Gymnasium, aimed at introducing young people to European politics.
While Merz had previously told Donald Trump that the decision on Ukrainian territory belongs to Ukrainians, he noted during a student event that a future peace treaty with Russia might mean some territories no longer belong to Ukraine. He suggested that as a transitional step, Ukrainian representatives could participate in EU meetings without voting rights. Merz's remarks were made during an 'EU Project Day' event at Carolus-Magnus-Gymnasium, aimed at introducing young people to European politics.