Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected a German proposal to grant Kyiv “associate member” status in the European Union without voting rights, stressing that Ukraine deserves full membership in the bloc.

Zelensky’s response came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed granting Ukraine a transitional status during the lengthy and complex accession negotiations.

The Ukrainian president stated that his country is “defending Europe” in the war against Russia, arguing that the absence of Ukraine as a full EU member would mean the absence of a complete European project.