Merz: There can be no 'dictated peace' on Ukraine
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that no decisions on Ukraine can be made without Ukraine, and there can be "no dictated peace over the heads of Ukraine," The Guardian said.
During a meeting with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk in Berlin, he said European partners must continue to help Ukraine defend itself, maintain transatlantic unity, cooperating with the United States, and be mindful of the broader European defense focus, especially mentioning the issue of frozen Russian assets.
Merz confirmed that he and Tusk had spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and stressed the importance of the coming days for Ukraine: "We are doing everything in our power to stand by Kyiv against the Russian aggressor." The chancellor also said that it was in Germany's interest to maintain close and "equal" political relations with Poland, which faces a threat from the "revisionist" regime in Russia, "especially in these times when the European unity is under such pressure, we must not allow ourselves to be divided."
He also spoke of closer cooperation in the field of defense and security, in particular on protecting NATO's eastern flank with the help of German fighter jets stationed in Poland and joint work on drones, with a plan to sign a new defense agreement in 2026.
