Germany's Merz Doubts Ukraine EU Accession by 2034 Amid War, Reconstruction

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed skepticism about Ukraine's accession to the European Union by 2034, emphasizing that ending the ongoing war is the absolute priority before any accession or reconstruction talks can proceed. He noted that Ukraine's accession is unlikely to impact the EU's current medium-term financial plans, which extend through 2034, and said that as long as Ukraine remains under attack, joining the EU is virtually impossible. Merz highlighted that rebuilding Ukraine will take several years and that Ukraine's integration into the EU is a longer-term goal. In contrast, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described a 2030 accession as realistic if Ukraine continues reforms at the current pace and quality, while Lithuania's foreign minister has suggested accession could happen as early as 2030. Ukraine has been a candidate for EU membership since 2022, but the process requires unanimous approval from all member states, with some opposition from countries like Hungary. Ukrainian officials aim to open all accession negotiation clusters by 2025 and complete legislative alignment with EU law by 2027.