Berlin, July 19, 2025 — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has downplayed Ukraine’s chances of joining the European Union anytime soon, saying its accession is unlikely to occur within the current EU budget cycle, which runs through 2034. His remarks stand in contrast to earlier suggestions by EU officials that Kyiv could become a member much earlier.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Romanian President Nicușor Dan in Berlin on Friday, Merz stated, “Our absolute top priority is to do everything possible to end this war. Only then will we talk about Ukraine’s reconstruction.”
Ukraine has made EU membership a national priority since 2019 and formally applied in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion. The country was granted candidate status later that year, and the European Commission had previously indicated that membership might be feasible by 2030—provided Ukraine met significant benchmarks in political and judicial reforms, and effectively tackled organized crime and corruption.
However, Merz emphasized that rebuilding Ukraine would be a long process, taking “several years,” and likely falling outside the EU’s current medium-term financial framework.
EU accession requires unanimous approval by all 27 member states. While Brussels has supported Ukraine’s bid, some countries—such as Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland—remain opposed. They argue that Ukraine’s institutions and economy remain underdeveloped, and that granting membership now would impose an unsustainable financial burden on the union.
Chancellor Merz’s comments signal a shift toward a more cautious and pragmatic approach within parts of the EU leadership, focusing first on stabilizing Ukraine and ending the war before advancing membership talks.
