Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a letter to EU leaders that Germany’s proposal to grant Ukraine “associated” membership in the European Union was “unfair,” because it would deprive Kyiv of voting rights within the bloc, Reuters reports.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed allowing Ukraine to participate in EU meetings without voting as an interim step toward full membership in the bloc, which, he said, could help secure an agreement to end the four-year war triggered by Russia’s invasion.

In response, Zelensky said in his letter, sent late on Friday and reviewed by Reuters, that the departure of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — a staunch opponent of Ukraine’s EU membership — after last month’s election had created an opportunity for substantial progress in accession talks.

“It would be unfair if Ukraine were present in the European Union but remained voiceless,” Zelensky said in his message. “The time has come to move forward on Ukraine’s membership in a full and meaningful way.”

The letter was addressed to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

Zelensky thanked European leaders for their support during the war and said that Ukraine serves “as a bulwark against Russian aggression for the entire 27-member bloc.”

“We are defending Europe — fully, not partially and not with half-measures. Ukraine deserves a fair approach and equal rights in Europe,” he said.

Source: https://news.am/en/news/1037721