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Ukraine will have to accept the loss of territory on its path to EU accession — Merz

Ukraine will have to accept the loss of territory on its path to EU accession — Merz

28 April 2026, 13:17

Ukraine will have to accept the loss of territory on its path to EU accession — Merz — Friedrich Merz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested that, in a potential peace agreement with Russia, Ukraine would have to accept the loss of part of its territory, but that this would facilitate the country’s accession to the European Union.

He made these remarks during a speech to students at the Carolus-Magnus Gymnasium in Marsberg, according to Reuters.

“At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement; at some point, we hope, a peace treaty with Russia. Then it may be the case that part of Ukraine’s territory will no longer be Ukrainian,” said Merz.

He believes that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will need to hold a referendum if he wants to convey this view on the territories to the people and secure their support, and to tell society that in this way he has “opened up Europe for them”.

At the same time, the German Chancellor rejected the idea of Ukraine’s rapid accession to the EU — saying that this is impossible during a war and that Ukraine must meet strict criteria, particularly regarding the rule of law and the fight against corruption.

“Zelenskyy put forward the idea of joining the EU on 1 January 2027. That won’t work. Even 1 January 2028 is unrealistic,” Merz believes.

He proposed interim steps, such as granting Ukraine observer status within EU institutions. According to him, this idea received broad support among European leaders at last week’s summit in Cyprus, which Zelenskyy also attended.

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