Germany’s Merz pitches making Ukraine EU ‘associate member’

(AFP/Al Arabiya) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed making Ukraine an “associate member” of the EU without voting rights, while Kyiv goes through the lengthy process of joining fully, a letter seen by AFP Thursday said. The plan — first floated by Merz with EU counterparts last month — would see Ukraine’s leader attend the bloc’s summit but not be able to cast a vote. – Germany’s Merz pitches making Ukraine EU ‘associate member’