German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed granting Ukraine “associate member” status in the European Union without voting rights while it pursues full membership, according to a letter seen by AFP on Thursday. The plan would allow Kyiv representation at EU summits, the European Commission and parliament, but without voting powers.

Under the proposal, outlined by Merz in a letter to EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, the bloc’s mutual assistance clause would apply to Ukraine, and it could benefit from parts of the EU’s budget.

“It is obvious that we will not be able to complete the accession process shortly, given the countless hurdles as well as the political complexities of ratification processes,” Merz wrote, according to AFP.

“What I envisage is a political solution that brings Ukraine substantially closer to the European Union and its core institutions immediately.”

Ukraine is pushing to speed up its bid to join the EU amid the war with Russia.