00:00In other news, German Chancellor Friedrich Mears says Ukraine joining the European Union by 2027 is not realistic,
00:08stressing that accession is a long and complex process.
00:12The remarks directly contradict Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky,
00:16who said on Tuesday that Kyiv is aiming for EU membership by next year
00:20and is actively lobbying member states to support that timeline.
00:23Mears said Ukraine must have the prospect of becoming a member of the EU,
00:31but like all candidates, it must meet the EU's Copenhagen criteria, a process that typically takes years.
00:38The criteria include stable democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights,
00:43a functioning market economy and the ability to implement EU law.
00:47Ukraine received candidate status in 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion,
00:52with official accession talks starting in 2024.
00:56But Hungary is blocking negotiating chapters,
00:59saying Ukraine's accession would come with security threats and economic risks,
01:04underscoring divisions within the EU.
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