Merz states Ukraine unlikely to join EU in near future

(MENAFN) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has downplayed the likelihood of Ukraine joining the European Union in the near future, stating it is improbable that the country will gain membership during the EU’s current budget period, which runs until 2034. This comes despite earlier suggestions from some EU officials that Ukraine could join as early as 2030.

Ukraine declared EU membership a national goal in 2019 and formally applied for accession in 2022, shortly after the conflict with Russia intensified. The country was granted candidate status later that year, with the European Commission indicating that membership by 2030 was possible — provided Ukraine successfully implements political and judicial reforms and cracks down on corruption and organized crime.

Speaking at a press conference with Romanian President Nicusor Dan in Berlin on Friday, Merz emphasized that ending the ongoing war takes priority over expansion discussions. “Our absolute top priority is to do everything we can to stop this war,” he said, adding that only after peace is achieved can the focus shift to Ukraine’s reconstruction — a process he expects to take many years, likely beyond the current EU financial cycle.

EU membership requires the agreement of all 27 member countries. While Brussels supports Ukraine’s bid, some nations — including Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland — remain skeptical. They argue that Ukraine’s governance structures and economy are not yet ready and warn that admitting Kiev could impose unsustainable financial burdens on the EU.

While Russia has firmly rejected Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, the Kremlin initially took a neutral view of Ukraine’s EU aspirations. In March, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine had the “sovereign right” to join the EU, so long as the bloc remained focused on economic matters.

However, as the EU increasingly moves toward military integration, Russian officials have become more critical. In June, the EU redirected around €335 billion in unused Covid-19 relief funds toward defense initiatives. A month earlier, Brussels launched a €150 billion financial package to support military spending among member states and provide aid to Ukraine’s defense industry.

Russia has denounced these developments, accusing both NATO and the EU of accelerating “militarization.” Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev even claimed that the EU now represents a threat to Russia on par with NATO.

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