Friedrich Merz: Ukraine's EU and NATO bid hinges on war's end
Friedrich Merz, the future chancellor of Germany, emphasizes that Ukraine can join the EU and NATO only after the war ends. He also warned against "underestimating Russia's resilience."
What do you need to know?
- Ukraine can join the EU and NATO only after the war ends – emphasized Friedrich Merz in an interview with "Handelsblatt."
- Merz warns against underestimating Russia – noting that Russian politics often exploits people in a brutal way.
- There is no hope for a quick end to the war – Merz does not believe that Russia will end the conflict with Ukraine on its own.
What are Ukraine's prospects for EU and NATO membership?
Friedrich Merz, the future chancellor of Germany, expressed his opinion in a conversation with "Handelsblatt" regarding Ukraine's future in the context of membership in the European Union and NATO.
"Ukraine is a European country that is at war. And a country that is at war cannot become a member of NATO or the European Union," Merz stated.
He simultaneously assured that Ukraine has the prospect of joining the European Union and NATO, but as he repeated, "for both of these events to occur, the war must first end."
Will Russia end the war in Ukraine?
Merz warns against underestimating Russia's resilience, emphasizing that "cruel exploitation of people has always been a part of Russian politics."
The future chancellor of Germany also does not have high hopes that Russia's war in Ukraine will end on its own at some point, "because this country will be bled dry or there will be a political reaction against the regime."
