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Exclusive-Ukraine's Zelenskiy Says Proposal of Associate EU Membership ...
By Daniel FlynnKYIV, May 23 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a letter to EU leaders that a German proposal to grant Ukraine "associate" membership of the European Union was "unfair" because it would leave Kyiv without a voice inside the bloc.German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested allowing Ukraine to participate in EU meetings without a vote as an interim step to full membership of the bloc, which he said could help facilitate a deal to end the four-year-old war triggered by Russia's invasion.In response, Zelenskiy said in his letter, sent late on Friday and reviewed by Reuters, that the removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban - a staunch opponent of Ukraine's EU membership - following elections last month created the opportunity for substantive progress on accession talks."It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union, but remain voiceless," Zelenskiy said in his message. "The time is right to move forward with Ukraine's membership in a full and meaningful way."The letter was addressed to European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who holds the rotating chair of the EU Council.Zelenskiy thanked European leaders for their support during the war, and said that Ukraine was acting as a bulwark against Russian aggression for the whole of the 27-nation bloc."We are defending Europe – fully, not partially, and not with half-measures," he said. "Ukraine deserves a fair approach and equal rights within Europe."(Reporting by Daniel Flynn; Editing by Susan Fenton)Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.Photos You Should See – April 2026
Zelenskyy says 'time is right' for Ukraine to start process of joining EU
His comments come as both Kyiv and Moscow try to advance their interests on the battlefield.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told European Union leaders that now is the time to begin the process of Ukraine’s accession to the bloc, describing a proposal for associate membership as “unfair”.Zelenskyy said in a letter to EU leaders on Friday that associate membership would leave Ukraine “voiceless” because it would not have voting rights, which would prevent Kyiv from advancing its interests, the Reuters news agency reported.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Why is Trump deploying 5,000 troops to Poland?list 2 of 3Russia ‘looking for new soldiers’; Kyiv claims 83,000 dead so far in 2026list 3 of 3Russia labels Ukraine attack in occupied Luhansk ‘monstrous crime’end of listUkraine has intensified efforts to join the EU after Hungary’s former prime minister, Viktor Orban, was ousted in parliamentary elections last month. Under Orban, who maintained close ties with Russia, Budapest repeatedly used its veto power to block Ukraine’s accession bid and stalled approval of aid for Kyiv.Zelenskyy’s push for EU membership comes as both Kyiv and Moscow seek to advance their interests on the battlefield.The head of the Russian-occupied Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine said on Saturday the death toll from a drone attack a day earlier had risen to 10.Vladimir Putin has ordered his forces to respond to the attack, which allegedly hit a student dormitory in the town of Starobilsk.The head of the region, Leonid Pasechnik, said 48 people were injured in the attack while 11 remain missing.The United Nations said on Friday it was alarmed by reports of the incident but cautioned that it could not verify the details.Kyiv has denied striking the dorm, saying it targeted an elite drone command unit in the area and that it complies with international humanitarian law.Ukraine’s military hit a large chemical plant, Metafrax Chemical, in Russia’s Perm region, 1,700km (1,050 miles) from the border, Zelenskyy said on Saturday.“The company’s products supply dozens of other Russian military production facilities, including aircraft equipment and drones, missile engines, and explosives. The production process at the enterprise has now been halted,” he said on Telegram.Ukraine also attacked Russian oil infrastructure, striking a refinery in the city of Yaroslavl. In Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, at least two people were injured when falling drone ...
Zelenskiy Says Time Is Right to Move Forward With Ukraine'S Eu ... - Cgtn
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Ukraine's Zelensky says proposal of associate EU membership 'unfair'
KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a letter to EU leaders that a German proposal to grant Ukraine "associate" membership of the European Union was "unfair" because it ...
