Published on 5/21/2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed granting Ukraine the status of a “partner member” in the European Union as a transitional formula until the process of full membership is completed, according to a letter he addressed to the Union’s leaders.
Meretz said in the letter that completing the full accession process “will not be possible in the near future” due to political complexities and ratification procedures within member states.
Meretz’s letter, addressed to a number of Union officials, including European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, included a detailed explanation of what the legal status of a “partner member” might be.
According to the proposal, the status of “partner member” will allow Ukraine to participate in some meetings of the European Council and ministerial councils, without granting it the right to vote, in addition to the possibility of appointing a European representative as a “partner” without a portfolio, and members of the European Parliament in a non-voting format.
Mertz emphasized that this situation does not represent “diluted membership,” in light of Ukraine’s rejection of any alternatives that are seen as a means of postponing full accession.
The Meretz proposal represents an attempt to find a compromise between the option of rapid accession and the current reality of Ukraine as a candidate country that is still in the early stages of the accession process.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to push for full membership in the European Union, preferring that this be achieved by 2027.
Analysts believe that the existence of a clear path to joining the European Union may be a decisive factor for Zelensky in his efforts to convince Ukrainian public opinion of any peaceful settlement, especially in the event that Ukraine does not regain control of its entire territory or does not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is a scenario that is considered likely.
This initiative comes at a time when Ukraine obtained the status of an official candidate for European Union membership in December 2023, while accession negotiations later faltered due to Hungary’s use of the veto power under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, which led to a freeze in progress in the talks.
Sanctions on Russia
On another topic, Zelensky said that Ukraine held discussions with Britain yesterday, Wednesday, and sent messages regarding a “sensitive” file related to imposing sanctions on Russia, with the hope of continuing to discuss the issue more broadly during the coming period.
He added in his evening video speech that “this issue is always very sensitive,” noting that the Ukrainian positions have been conveyed to London, with the expectation that more discussions will be held at the bilateral level during this week.
Zelensky did not directly refer to Britain’s decision to continue allowing the import of diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian oil through third countries, but he stressed that the sanctions imposed by the allies represent the most effective means of putting pressure on Moscow.
In a subsequent post on the “X” platform, Zelensky said that he had a phone call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, thanking him for the support provided to Ukraine, adding that the two sides are coordinating their diplomatic positions and working to “revive serious diplomacy.”
In a related field context, the governor of the Russian Samara region, Vyacheslav Fedorishev, said that a drone attack on the city of Syzran resulted in the deaths of two people, noting that the city includes a major oil refinery and is located approximately 1,000 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.
Russian local authorities also reported that three people were injured in a drone attack on the town of Shibykino and its surroundings in the Belgorod border region, while Kiev announced that one person was injured in the city of Dnipro in southeastern Ukraine, amid an exchange of night attacks between the two sides.
