The political map of Europe is changing once again under the pressure of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has put forward an unexpected initiative: he believes that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz should take on the role of coordinator for the European Union's negotiation process to end Russian aggression.
Why Merz?
According to the Czech Prime Minister, Merz possesses the necessary authority and mandate to coordinate efforts at the EU level. This proposal resonates with recent steps taken by the German Chancellor himself, who sent a letter to Brussels proposing the consideration of granting Ukraine the status of an associated member of the European Union.
This initiative was a response to Kyiv's request for accelerated European integration, but it immediately sparked a heated discussion among the leaders of member states. It is important to understand: the discussion is not about full membership with voting rights, but about a special format of participation which, according to Merz, could become a powerful political signal in current conditions.
The dilemma between Kyiv and Brussels
The position of the Ukrainian authorities remains unchanged. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that Kyiv does not accept intermediate or limited forms of membership, insisting on full integration. However, European realists, including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, point out that unanimity within the union on the issue of full membership is currently unattainable.
In his letter, Merz emphasizes that Ukraine has already made significant strides in drawing closer to the EU since submitting its application at the beginning of the war. At the same time, he notes that full membership in the near future remains unlikely due to the position of some member states.
Security and Article 42.7
A separate part of the initiative concerns security issues. The German Chancellor proposes that Ukraine align its foreign and defense policy with the EU. In return, union countries could invoke the provisions of Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union regarding mutual defense. According to Merz, this could become an important element of security guarantees for Kyiv.
Who else could become a mediator?
While Europe discusses Merz's candidacy, the Kremlin has voiced its own vision of mediators. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for the candidacy of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, noting that he considers him the most suitable figure for conducting dialogue between Moscow and Brussels.
Previously, former Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier were also considered as possible negotiators from the EU. These names appear in the context of seeking compromise solutions capable of stopping the escalation.
Context of EU enlargement
Today, nine candidate countries are involved in the European Union enlargement process, including Ukraine, Western Balkan states, Moldova, Georgia, and Turkey. The pace of negotiations for them varies significantly: while some states expect to join in the coming years, negotiations with Turkey, which began in the late 1980s, remain effectively frozen.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in turn, stated that Kyiv remains open to various diplomatic mechanisms to end the war. At the same time, he noted that currently the attention of the USA is largely focused on other international crises, which could affect the dynamics of negotiations.