German chancellor seeks associate EU status for Ukraine (opens in new tab)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed giving Ukraine “associate member” status in the European Union without voting rights while Kyiv continues its full accession process, according to a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa seen by AFP and Reuters. Merz said full accession in the near term was unrealistic but that he still wanted Ukraine to become a full EU member. Under the proposal, Ukraine’s leader could attend EU sum...