Merz suggests Ukraine may need territorial concessions in future peace deal

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested that Ukraine may ultimately have to accept that parts of its territory could remain outside Kyiv’s control as part of a future peace agreement with Russia, while linking such developments to the country’s path toward European Union membership.

Speaking on April 27 at the Carolus-Magnus-Gymnasium in Marsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, Merz said that at some point Ukraine is expected to sign a ceasefire agreement and later, hopefully, a peace treaty with Russia, adding that it may result in parts of Ukraine no longer being under Ukrainian control, Reuters reports.

"If President [Volodymyr] Zelenskiy wants to communicate this to his own population and gain a majority for it, and he needs to hold a referendum on it, then he must at the same time tell the people: 'I have opened the way to Europe for you'," Merz added.

Ukraine is currently an official EU candidate country, but its accession process has faced political obstacles, including opposition from Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. However, Orbán’s recent election defeat has raised expectations among some EU members that progress on accession talks could advance.

Merz cautioned against expectations of rapid membership, stressing that Ukraine cannot join the EU while it is still at war and must first meet conditions including rule-of-law standards and anti-corruption requirements.

"Zelenskiy had the idea of joining the EU on January 1, 2027. That will not work. Even January 1, 2028 is not realistic," Merz said.

He also proposed intermediate arrangements, such as granting Ukraine observer status in EU institutions, noting that the idea had received broad support among European leaders at a recent summit in Cyprus attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Separately, the European Union recently approved a 90 billion euro loan package for Ukraine to cover most of its financial needs through 2027, although divisions remain within the bloc over the pace of Ukraine’s accession process.

By Sabina Mammadli