Zelenskyy calls Merz proposal unfair in public address

On 23 May 2026, Ukraine's Zelenskyy rejected a proposal by Germany's Merz to give Ukraine associate membership or a special status in the EU. He called the proposal unfair and insisted that Ukraine deserves full EU membership. Handelsblatt said he pressed for full membership in a letter to the EU, and Lenta.ru said he made a public address after the proposal.