Zelenskyy Strongly Responds to Germany: 'Ukraine Cannot Be Voiceless'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sharply responded to a German proposal that would grant Ukraine "cooperating" membership status in the European Union. Zelenskyy described the plan as "unfair" in a letter to EU leaders, arguing it would leave Kyiv without a genuine influence on the bloc's decisions.

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It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union but remain without a voice.

The German proposal, suggested by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, envisioned Ukraine participating in EU meetings without voting rights as a transitional step toward full membership. Merz suggested this could help foster an agreement to end the four-year war initiated by Russia's invasion. However, Zelenskyy countered that the recent removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a strong opponent of Ukraine's EU membership, from power after last month's elections, has created an opportunity for real progress in accession talks.

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The time has come to move forward with Ukraine's membership in a full and meaningful way.

"It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union but remain without a voice," Zelenskyy wrote in his message, verified by Reuters. "The time has come to move forward with Ukraine's membership in a full and meaningful way." The letter was addressed to European Council President António Costa, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

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We are defending Europe – fully, not partially and not with half-measures.

Zelenskyy thanked European leaders for their support during the war, emphasizing Ukraine's role as a bulwark protecting the entire 27-member bloc from Russian aggression. "We are defending Europe – fully, not partially and not with half-measures," he asserted. "Ukraine deserves fair treatment and equal rights in Europe." Meanwhile, in the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned NATO allies that the number of American troops stationed in Europe could change.

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Ukraine deserves fair treatment and equal rights in Europe.