Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejects any notion that Ukraine should surrender to Russia. According to him, such an outcome would not only mean defeat for Kyiv, but for all Western countries supporting Ukraine. At the same time, he points to Russia’s alleged attempts to destabilize German society as a greater cause for concern than both the country’s economic problems and relations with the US and China.
It was during an economic forum in Berlin on Wednesday that Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz once again expressed his support for Ukraine.
He emphasized that Germany and other European countries are still prepared to negotiate an end to the war, but that a peace settlement must not mean Ukraine is forced to give in to Russia.
According to Merz, the conflict is not just about Ukraine’s future, but about the security of all of Europe and the position of the Western allies.
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“We do not support Ukraine in order to prolong this war. But capitulation – or even an unconditional capitulation by Ukraine – is out of the question. For that would mean all of us surrendering,” Merz said, according to news agency Reuters.
The chancellor thus made it clear that the German government’s support for Ukraine remains firm, while underlining that diplomatic talks are still possible.
Points to Russia as the Biggest Threat
Merz also devoted a significant part of his speech to what he describes as a growing Russian threat to Germany. According to the chancellor, Moscow is conducting extensive operations to influence and destabilize German society through disinformation, sabotage, and various forms of hybrid attacks.
He accused Russia of carrying out a “fundamental attack on the political order established after the end of the Cold War.”
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“My greatest concern right now is not our economy, not the US or China, but Russia’s influence over our society and how they are successfully destabilizing our societies,” Merz explained.
According to the chancellor, this includes acts of sabotage, attacks on communication systems, and other attempts to create instability in Germany. He claimed that such attacks occur daily and warned that the extent and seriousness is still underestimated within the country.
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Merz’s statements come as tensions between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump have once again come into focus.
Zelenskyy: Trump Wants Us to Capitulate
Zelenskyy in recent days has expressed dissatisfaction with US President Donald Trump and his administration’s actions toward Ukraine. Zelenskyy has accused the White House of pressuring Ukraine to make concessions to Russia to achieve peace.
In an interview with Bloomberg, the Ukrainian president claimed that US actions give the impression that they are trying to persuade Kyiv to surrender.
“I believe there have been efforts made to convince Ukraine to capitulate. I’m not saying that’s our partners’ intention. But that’s how it appears,” said Zelenskyy.
Trump has heavily criticized the Ukrainian president, accusing him of not wanting to end the war, and has also criticized the EU’s support for Ukraine as making Zelenskyy uninterested in pursuing peace. The American president has furthermore suggested that Zelenskyy should let someone else handle the peace negotiations.