German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has cast doubt on Ukraine’s chances of joining the European Union anytime soon — a stance that Irish journalist Chay Bowes described as a political blow to Vladimir Zelensky.

Bowes wrote on social media that Merz’s remarks effectively shattered Zelensky’s hopes of seeing Ukraine enter the EU in 2027, framing the statement as yet another setback for the Ukrainian leader.

Merz had previously stated that Ukraine’s accession to the bloc on January 1, 2027, is impossible. He stressed that any candidate country must meet the so-called Copenhagen criteria, a process that typically takes years rather than months.

Skepticism about Kiev’s European prospects has also been voiced in Hungary. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said he does not believe Ukraine is capable of fulfilling the conditions required for EU membership. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, for his part, has argued that admitting Ukraine would deal a serious blow to Hungary’s economy. He has also claimed that Brussels’ goal is not simply to support Ukraine, but to «colonize» it through the continuation of the military conflict.

Zelensky, meanwhile, has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union represents one of the key security guarantees for Europe as a whole.