Kiev, 28 April 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky views his country’s accession to the European Union as a key component of a peace settlement.

In a video message on Monday, he also cited the "reconstruction of our country after the war" as a prerequisite for "real peace in Europe."

He also stated that Ukraine’s borders and sovereignty must be respected and that security guarantees must be granted to the country.

Zelensky noted that the Russian attack in February 2022 was preceded, among other things, by the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula in southern Ukraine.

Earlier on Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had described greater integration of Ukraine into the EU as an important foundation for ending Russia’s war of aggression.

At the same time, however, Merz did not entirely rule out Ukraine ceding territory. For approval in a referendum, Kiev must be offered the prospect of full EU membership, he asserted.

The World Bank estimates the financial needs for rebuilding the war-torn country at the equivalent of around €500 billion ($586 billion). According to its own figures, Ukraine has already received around €150 billion from foreign donors since the start of the war, solely for financing its national budget.

Last week, EU member states cleared the way for the payment of an additional €90 billion from a loan.

MIA file photo