No guarantees, no rights: why Ukraine should reject Merz’s EU "associate membership" plan

There are several EU countries that would be happy for Ukraine to remain stuck in the EU’s waiting room without voting rights and without access to European funds.
15:56
NATO chief announces new pledges of support for Ukraine from allies
15:41
NATO chief invites Zelenskyy to Alliance leaders' summit in Ankara
15:31
Ukrainian foreign minister on "associate EU membership" proposal: Ukraine's real goal must not be replaced
15:12
Ukrainian foreign ministry expects Tsikhanouskaya, referring to her as Belarus's representative
14:46
Ukrainian foreign minister: all clusters of EU accession talks with Ukraine should be opened in June
14:20
Estonian foreign minister: Russia deliberately directs Ukrainian drones into NATO airspace
13:36
Lithuania to ban 600 Russians who fought against Ukraine from entering Schengen Area
13:30
EXPLAINERHow Slovenia's policy could change under a new prime minister supported by "Putin's friends"
11:57
Latvia suggests AI component may have caused stray Ukrainian drones to hit oil depot
11:18
NATO allies discuss long-term military support for Ukraine at 0.25% of GDP
10:32
PHOTOUkrainian foreign minister holds first meeting with new Hungarian counterpart
10:27
NATO chief dissatisfied that only 6-7 European countries are buying US weapons for Ukraine
08:56
Finland condemns Russian lies about Ukrainian drone attacks launched from Baltic states
08:38
Russian media: US official reportedly to attend forum in Russia for first time in several years
21 May, 2026
19:48
Ukraine's foreign minister discusses threats from Russia and Belarus with Rutte
18:24
PHOTOUkraine's deputy PM meets Serbian president
17:13
Estonia summons Russian diplomat over threats against Baltic states
15:56
Germany's Merz proposes EU task force on Ukraine’s "associate membership"
14:30
EXPLAINERWhat stands behind the UK's high-profile decision on Russian energy and what's the problem
14:25
European Commission comments on Merz's proposal for "associate EU membership" for Ukraine
12:39
Lithuanian defence ministry: Drone that crashed in country was Ukrainian
20 May, 2026
18:03
Magyar explains Hungary's condition for opening Ukraine's first EU negotiating cluster
17:45
Trump praises Xi's meeting With Putin
15:57
EXCLUSIVELYEU sets conditions for first €90 billion aid tranche: parcel tax and customs reform
15:30
EXPLAINERWhy the Czech government put relations with Germany at risk and who may be behind it
14:25
NATO chief warns Russia of "devastating" repercussions if it uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine
12:45
Media: Russia's Patriarch Kirill may be included in new EU "mini-package"
12:27
EU and Ukraine agree on €8.35bn macro-financial assistance under €90bn loan
10:29
Ukrainian foreign minister shares details on consultations on national minorities issue between Ukraine and Hungary
10:16
Air-raid warning issued in parts of Lithuania after detection of drone
08:30
EXPLAINERHow thousands of Hungarians helped Ukraine's army despite Orbán's regime
08:23
German foreign minister: Europe should learn from Ukraine's experience of blackouts
19 May, 2026
18:31
Trump: Xi didn't say Putin will regret war in Ukraine
18:25
NATO says US weapons purchases for Ukraine under PURL procurement scheme will proceed in full
18:00
EXPLAINERHow political infighting paralysed Poland's constitutional court
14:55
Ukraine apologises over drone incidents in Estonia
14:23
UK penalises London branch of German bank for violating sanctions against Russia
13:52
Ukraine and Latvia dismiss Russian claims of strikes being prepared from Latvian territory as lies
12:56
Estonia shoots down "stray" drone for first time, likely Ukrainian
12:37
Media: Ukraine's delegation to Serbia will be led by deputy PM, not Zelenskyy
11:32
President's Office expects swift opening of first EU accession negotiation clusters
11:13
Zelenskyy's office denies any tension with EU over Ukraine's rapid accession
10:14
Deputy head of Zelenskyy's Office: Invitation for Trump negotiators to visit Kyiv is still open
08:41
Media: Zelenskyy may make visit to Serbia later this week
08:30
EXPLAINERWho could become UK's next PM and what he thinks about Ukraine and the war
18 May, 2026
17:58
EU ambassador after drone attacks on Russia: "Moscow needs to understand that it is time to end war"
16:45
EXPLAINERHow Ukraine must strengthen anti-tobacco policy on its path to EU and what stands in the way
16:13
EU has not yet decided whether to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians
14:03
EU and Ukraine make progress in talks on terms for tranche of €90 billion loan
13:13
G7 meeting in Paris to focus on Ukraine and Strait of Hormuz
All news

Long-reads and interviews

Who is the new Hungary? Why Ukraine's EU accession talks are still stalling and what comes next
Some say that the opening of the negotiating clusters could be delayed until autumn. So which timeline is realistic, and when can Ukraine expect the EU to formally open accession negotiations?
Neither fast nor endless: how EU should rethink Ukraine's accession process
The European Union has to adapt the philosophy of its enlargement policy to today's geopolitical and economic changes in the world, especially when it comes to Ukraine.
EU money instead of Russian assets: why €90 billion decision is a missed opportunity for Europe
Yet, the EU has overlooked its most powerful leverage: Russia's immobilized sovereign assets. The Reparation Loan framework remains not only a pragmatic option, but also a fair one.
Will Péter Magyar be another Orbán? Interpreting Hungary's new stance on Ukraine
The fact that Péter Magyar made a statement on resetting Ukrainian-Hungarian relations after meeting with the mayor of Berehove is an extremely positive signal. Oddly enough, the list of his demands gives further cause for optimism.

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