President Zelenskyy said they should become members next year. I have told him several times not to issue ultimatums. It is not in your interest,” Bettel said ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators are taking part in the first trilateral talks since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

US and Ukrainian negotiators discussed a March deadline for a peace deal with Russia, but deep disagreements over territory and election logistics have raised doubts about whether the ambitious timeline can be met.

Reuters reported on Friday U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have discussed an ambitious March goal for Russia and Ukraine to agree on ​a peace deal, though that timeline is likely