Nicosia, April 24 (QNA) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Ukraine has no prospect of immediate membership in the European Union (EU), though he suggested it could take part in EU meetings without having voting rights.

After attending an EU summit in Cyprus alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Merz remarked that it was widely understood that Ukraine could not join the EU right away. He added that he wanted to promote closer integration with European institutions, for instance by allowing Ukraine to participate in European Council meetings without voting privileges.

Before the summit, Zelenskyy dismissed proposals that would grant Ukraine a status short of full membership, stressing that the country did not require symbolic privileges within the EU. He argued that Ukraine was defending shared European values and therefore deserved full membership, particularly as it seeks to sustain momentum in its accession bid and worries that temporary arrangements could delay progress for years.

Ukraine has stepped up its push to join the 27-member bloc as it faces Russia's military intervention on its territory. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had previously slowed these efforts, but his recent election defeat has increased optimism that the process may advance.

While EU leaders broadly support moving forward with the initial rounds of negotiations, there is limited willingness to fast-track Ukraine's accession, prompting some to propose interim compromises. (QNA)