The letter was addressed to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.
“It would be unfair if Ukraine were present in the European Union but remained without a voice. It is time to move forward on Ukraine’s membership in a full and meaningful way,” Zelenskyy wrote.
He added that the replacement of Hungary’s prime minister had created an opportunity for substantial progress in accession talks.
Zelenskyy also thanked European leaders for their support during the war and said Ukraine has served as a bulwark against Russian aggression for the entire 27-member bloc.
“We defend Europe — fully, not partially, and not with half-measures. Ukraine deserves fair treatment and equal rights in Europe,” the letter said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed granting Ukraine a special “associate member” status in the EU, Der Spiegel reported on May 21.
Under the proposal, Ukraine would receive:
participation and voting rights at meetings of the Council of the EU and the European Council, while participating without voting rights in the work of the European Commission and European Parliament;
gradual integration into the EU budget;
application of Article 42.7 of the EU treaties on mutual defense and assistance to provide Ukraine with additional security guarantees;
a seat at the Court of Justice of the EU as an assistant rapporteur, a lower-level judicial position.
Under Merz’s proposal, Ukraine would not yet have voting rights on all issues.