German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urges the European Union to revive its enlargement agenda by considering “associate membership” for Ukraine, according to reporting from Bloomberg and The Independent. The proposal would allow Ukraine to move closer to the EU without full membership, as Germany seeks a mechanism to advance the bloc’s relationship with Ukraine. The Winnipeg Free Press adds that Germany also calls for boosting diplomatic talks with Russia alongside the EU discussions. The sources present Merz’s initiative as part of Berlin’s effort to inject momentum into EU enlargement policy. While the articles focus on the concept of associate membership, they do not describe specific timelines or the details of what associate membership would include. Across outlets, the thrust is consistent: Merz is pressing EU institutions and member states to take up the idea of associate status for Ukraine and to engage more directly in dialogue related to Russia. The reporting does not indicate that the EU has formally adopted the proposal or that it has secured broad consensus among member countries.