Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticizes a German proposal for Ukraine’s “associate” membership of the European Union, calling it unfair. Multiple outlets report that Zelenskyy raises the concern in communications to EU leaders, arguing that an associate status would not give Ukraine a meaningful voice within EU decision-making structures. The German proposal, attributed to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is described as an interim step toward full EU membership. Under the idea, Ukraine would participate in EU meetings without voting rights. Zelenskyy’s position is that such an arrangement would leave Kyiv unable to influence outcomes inside the bloc while still being subject to EU policies. The coverage emphasizes the dispute over how to structure Ukraine’s involvement before any potential full accession process, with Zelenskyy opposing an approach that grants participation but not votes. The reports do not indicate that EU leaders have agreed to the proposal or that any final terms have been set, but they frame Zelenskyy’s comments as a direct challenge to the interim membership concept.