BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday that the war in Ukraine could continue for a long time, stressing that ending the conflict quickly at Ukraine’s expense was not an option.
In an interview with public broadcaster ZDF, Merz was asked whether a ceasefire might be possible this year. He replied that while he has not lost hope, he holds “no illusions,” and underscored that helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia remains an “absolute priority.”
We are trying to end it as quickly as possible but certainly not at the price of Ukraine’s capitulation,” Merz said. You could end the war tomorrow if Ukraine were to surrender and relinquish its independence. Then the following country would be at risk the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, it would be us. That is not an option.”
Germany is one of Ukraine’s key supporters, having provided or pledged around €40 billion ($47 billion) in military aid since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.Merz’s comments come amid growing debate in Europe about how to balance continued military support for Kyiv with efforts to push for negotiations. While some voices across the continent have called for an immediate ceasefire to halt the fighting, Berlin insists that any settlement must safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and prevent Russia from using aggression as a tool of influence in Europe.
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