Germany's Merz: Putin must realise he has no chance of winning war in Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin must understand he has no chance of winning the war against Ukraine.

Source: The Guardian, citing Merz in a speech in the Bundestag (the German federal parliament), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Merz said that preserving peace in Europe is one of his government's key principles and spoke of the need to end the war in Ukraine, but not on terms that would amount to "capitulation".

He also stressed the need to maintain unity between European countries and the United States, because "without the consent of Ukraine and without the consent of the Europeans, there will be no basis for a genuine, lasting peace in Ukraine".

The chancellor welcomed efforts by US President Donald Trump to end the war but underlined that "European affairs can only be decided in agreement with Europe" because Europe is "not a pawn, but a sovereign actor, with its own interests and values".

Merz reiterated that Russia could end the war within minutes if it genuinely wanted to.

He said that Germany will continue to support Ukraine "for as long as possible" and that he will back the idea of using frozen Russian assets "available for this purpose".

Quote: "Putin must realise that he has no chance of winning this war at the expense of the European order of freedom and peace."

More details: Merz also said that Germany will increase its support for Ukraine next year to a total of €11.5 billion.

Background:

• The United States and Ukraine over the weekend in Geneva adjusted the Trump team's original 28-point "peace plan" and drew up a new 19-point document, leaving the most politically sensitive issues to be decided by the presidents of both countries.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier held a phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss the updated plan.

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