Ukrainian foreign minister on "associate EU membership" proposal: Ukraine's real goal must not be replaced

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has neither endorsed nor categorically rejected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's proposal for a new format of relations between the EU and Ukraine, but reiterated Kyiv's position on membership.

Sybiha stressed during an online conference for Ukrainian journalists that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's earlier statement rejecting "symbolic" EU membership remains Ukraine's official position: "The president of Ukraine has set out our position on Ukraine's membership, and it is unchanged."

Meanwhile, the minister said Ukraine does not object to exploring creative approaches.

"We see that discussions are already underway and that efforts are being made to find a modality for achieving membership. That is fine – let these discussions continue. But they cannot replace our strategic position, which is full and equal membership of the European Union," he said.

Sybiha stressed that Ukraine assesses "any initiatives that emerge in one capital or another" against that criterion and added that there are also non-public proposals under discussion. "We are aware of these ideas, and we are being consulted," he added.

It was reported earlier that Merz has proposed the idea of "associate EU membership" for Ukraine as a temporary status that would partly address Kyiv's desire for rapid accession.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has publicly opposed Merz's proposal for "associate EU membership" for Ukraine.