German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday urged the West to remain united on Ukraine and emphasised his efforts to ensure cohesion between European and U.S. allies in ending the war.
In his first major speech to parliament since taking office last week, Merz said the West could not accept a dictated peace for Ukraine or a submission to the status quo achieved by Russian military forces.
He was speaking a day before Ukrainian and Russian delegates could meet for peace talks in Istanbul, more than three years after the start of the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two.
After winning elections in February, Merz has promised to give Germany a bigger role on the global stage and beef up its military through more defence spending. Though he has publicly castigated U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration as an unreliable ally, in Wednesday’s speech, he thanked Trump for his support in pushing for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
“Such a ceasefire can open a window in which peace negotiations become possible,” he told parliament.
“It is of paramount importance that the political West does not allow itself to be divided, and therefore I will make every effort to continue to achieve the greatest possible unity between our European and American partners.”
“This terrible war and its outcome will not only determine the fate of Ukraine,” he added. “The outcome of this war will determine whether law and order will continue to prevail in Europe and the world, or whether tyranny, military force, and the sheer right of the strongest will prevail.”
‘No Imposed Peace’
Merz emphasised that peace in Ukraine must not be imposed or shaped by military force against Ukraine’s will. “We continue to strongly support Ukraine, the nation under attack,” he stated, describing it as a shared commitment among Europeans, Americans, and other global allies.
He delivered sharp criticism of Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year, accusing Moscow of violating every principle that has underpinned European peace since World War II and the end of the Cold War.
“The outcome of this war will decide whether the rule of law continues to guide Europe and the world—or if tyranny and brute force prevail,” he warned.
Merz reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding Germany’s military strength, noting that significant funding had already been secured. “Reinforcing the Bundeswehr is our top priority,” he declared, aiming to make it Europe’s strongest conventional force.
“Our ultimate goal is peace through strength,” he concluded, calling for greater responsibility within NATO and the EU.
(With inputs from Reuters)
