German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Jan. 28 that Ukraine joining the EU next year is not a feasible goal, stressing that the accession is a lengthy process. The comments come after President Volodymyr Zelensky set 2027 as the target date for Ukraine's entry into the bloc. "We can slowly bring Ukraine closer to the European Union along the way," the chancellor said. Orban earlier claimed that a confidential document discussed within the EU as part of peace talks envisions Ukraine joining the EU next year under a fast-tracked process. Opinion on Ukraine's accession remains divided across the EU, with the European Commission reportedly pushing a two-tier accession plan that would allow Ukraine to join faster, while temporarily curtailing some of its membership rights.