Zelensky dissatisfied with being sidelined: seeking a full seat at the EU table

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes for full representation of his country within the European Union, considering the current circumstances ideal for achieving that goal.

In a letter addressed to European Union leaders, Zelensky described the German proposal to grant Ukraine “associate member” status within the bloc as “unfair,” arguing that it would deprive Kyiv of the right to have a voice inside the Union.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had proposed allowing Ukraine to participate in European Union meetings without voting rights as a temporary step toward full EU membership.

Zelensky sent his letter late Friday night, and Reuters reviewed its contents. In it, he said that the removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from power following last month’s elections — Orbán being a strong opponent of Ukraine’s accession to the bloc — had created an opportunity for substantial progress in accession talks.

The Ukrainian president believes that securing a seat at the EU table could help facilitate an agreement to end the four-year war triggered by Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

In his letter, Zelensky wrote: “It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union yet remain voiceless… The time has come to move forward with Ukraine’s accession in a full and meaningful way.”

The letter was addressed to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

He added: “We are defending Europe — fully, not partially and not through incomplete measures… Ukraine deserves fair treatment and equal rights within Europe.”