German Chancellor Friedrich Merz outlined a proposal for closer Ukrainian participation in European Union institutions before full accession, while stressing that Kyiv would still need to meet all membership criteria to join the bloc. Speaking in the Bundestag on Thursday, June 11, ahead of next week’s EU summit, Merz said Ukraine belongs in the European Union “in the longer term” and highlighted what he described as the country’s significant reform achievements during wartime. JOIN US ON