Multiple web search results report that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated there was no prospect of Ukraine's 'immediate accession' to the EU, but suggested Kyiv could join meetings without voting rights. The evidence from the web search regarding Merz's statements is consistent across multiple reports.

Evidence shows that Ukraine is actively seeking to accelerate its EU bid. One source notes Ukraine is willing to delay benefits to speed up accession, and another source mentions Zelenskyy pushing for a clear timeline, indicating an active push for membership while the conflict continues.

The evidence confirms Viktor Orbán's history of opposition to Ukraine's progress and reports that he has since lost an election, which is cited as a development that raises hopes for future progress.

Multiple web search results confirm that EU leaders discussed and supported advancing Ukraine's integration by opening negotiating clusters, specifically mentioning António Costa emphasizing the opening of the first cluster.

The claim is corroborated by multiple web search results detailing Merz's statement at an EU summit in Cyprus, confirming that he stated immediate accession was not possible. This is consistent with the evidence found in the web search results.