Zelenskyy rejects “half-membership” EU proposal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the idea of offering Ukraine partial or associate membership in the European Union, insisting that the country should be granted full accession status as it continues to defend Europe against Russia.

In a letter addressed to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s long-standing goal of full EU membership and warned against what he described as “half-measures," Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

“We have never viewed membership as joining some kind of ‘half-Union,’” Zelenskyy wrote, according to excerpts from the letter.

The remarks come in response to proposals linked to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, suggesting an “associate membership” model as an interim step toward full accession. Zelenskyy cautioned that delaying or diluting Ukraine’s EU path could be interpreted by Russia as a sign of weakness.

He also emphasised Ukraine’s role in European security, arguing that the country’s military contribution should be recognised as part of its case for faster integration into the bloc.

“It would be strange if we were holding back the largest anti-European power, while we ourselves were being held up at the threshold of full membership,” he stated.

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine is undergoing EU-required reforms while simultaneously fighting the largest war in Europe since World War II, arguing that this dual burden strengthens the case for accelerating accession talks.

By Sabinna Mammadli