German chancellor Merz dismisses Ukraine's 2027 EU membership goal

Thursday 29 January 2026 - 19:20

By: Dakir Madiha

German chancellor Merz dismisses Ukraine's 2027 EU membership goal

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz firmly rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's push for EU membership by 2027 on Wednesday, deeming the timeline "out of the question" and "impossible." This staunch opposition from Europe's most powerful member highlights deepening divisions within the bloc over the pace of Ukraine's integration amid ongoing peace negotiations.

"A January 1, 2027, accession is out of the question. It's not possible," Merz stated in Berlin, according to German news agency DPA. He stressed that all aspiring members, including Ukraine, must meet the Copenhagen criteria established in 1993 which demand stable democratic institutions, a functioning market economy, and the ability to implement EU law, a process that typically spans years.

European responses remain split. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos voiced support for Zelenskyy's target during a January 29 meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. "Yes, it's not just his wish. It's mine and that of many member states," Kos said, while noting that fundamental reforms must precede accession. She updated ministers on a "prosperity plan" for Ukraine, jointly developed with the United States under European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aiming to mobilize up to $800 billion for reconstruction by 2040.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took a harder line, vowing to block Ukraine's EU bid outright. He decried an alleged confidential EU document envisioning 2027 membership as a threat to the union itself. Ukraine, granted candidate status in 2022, has completed legislative screening for all negotiation chapters and views EU entry as a vital security guarantee after nearly four years of war with Russia.

At last week's Davos World Economic Forum, Zelenskyy argued: "Ukraine's EU membership is one of the essential security guarantees not only for us but for all of Europe. That's why we talk about a specific date, 2027." The membership debate unfolds against US-mediated peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, with late-January trilateral discussions in Abu Dhabi paving the way for further rounds. Reports suggest Washington ties security guarantees to Ukrainian concessions in the Donbass region.

In his Wednesday evening address, Zelenskyy warned of Russian efforts to undermine diplomacy: "The Russians are preparing a massive new strike our intelligence indicates it. The United States, Europe, and all our partners must understand how this discredits diplomatic talks."