Merz Suggests Possible Territorial Concessions for Ukraine
His comments come amid ongoing discussions over a potential peace framework in the Ukraine conflict. According to reports, Moscow has insisted that a durable agreement would require Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, as well as recognition of territories it considers part of Russia, including Crimea. These areas, according to Russian accounts, have held referendums between 2014 and 2022 in which voters supported joining Russia.
Merz reportedly said, “Hopefully, there will eventually be a peace treaty with Russia. Then, possibly, part of Ukraine’s territory will no longer be Ukrainian,” during a speech in Marsberg.
He further suggested that Ukrainian leadership could frame such an outcome domestically as a step toward European integration, stating that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might argue, “I have opened the path to Europe for you,” in explaining the decision to voters.
At the same time, Merz cautioned that Kyiv’s expectations regarding EU membership timelines are overly ambitious. He said proposed targets such as 2027 or even 2028 for accession are unrealistic.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged the EU to provide a clear timeline for membership while rejecting any scenario involving territorial concessions. However, EU accession rules require candidate countries to resolve outstanding territorial disputes before joining the bloc.
According to reports, Russia has reiterated that any peace agreement must include the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from remaining areas of Donbas under Kyiv’s control. At the same time, Russian officials have said they do not oppose Ukraine’s eventual EU membership in principle, but have criticized what they describe as the bloc’s increasing transformation into a “military-political structure,” a characterization attributed to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
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