German Chancellor has suggested that a final peace deal with Russia will require concessions from Kiev
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Ukraine may have to accept territorial losses in a future peace deal with Russia to keep EU membership hopes alive.
Moscow has said that for lasting peace, Kiev must withdraw its troops from the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye, as well as recognize Russia’s new territories, including Crimea. All regions voted overwhelmingly to join the Russian Federation from 2014 to 2022.
“Hopefully, eventually there will be a peace treaty with Russia. Then, possibly, some part of Ukraine’s territory will no longer be Ukrainian,” Merz said during a speech in Marsberg, as cited by dpa.
Vladimir Zelensky should ask Ukrainians to hold a referendum on such a decision: “I have opened the way to Europe for you,” He said.
Merz said the EU could then take steps towards Kyiv’s accession, but warned that Zelensky’s timeline for membership was too optimistic.
“Zelensky’s idea was to join the EU on January 1, 2027. It won’t work. January 1, 2028 is also unrealistic.” The German Chancellor said.
Zelensky has demanded for months that Brussels give Ukraine “Clear Date” To join the EU. He has also consistently refused to accept territorial losses.
However, the economic bloc’s accession criteria demand that potential members have no unresolved border disputes with their neighbors.
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Moscow has repeatedly stressed that any stable peace must include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the parts of Donbass that are still under Kiev’s control. Moscow has also said it is not opposed to Ukraine joining the EU, but Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticized what he calls an EU coup. “Aggressive military-political faction.”
