Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after meeting President Donald Trump at the White House on 3 March that Europe will not allow any agreement on Ukraine to be concluded without taking its position into account. This was reported by The WP Times, citing a publication by Reuters.
Europe must participate in decisions on Ukraine
“Without the participation of Europeans, there will be no agreement,” Merz stated, stressing that any arrangements regarding the Ukrainian issue must reflect the interests of all European countries. The Chancellor emphasised that the opinion of Europeans must be taken into account alongside the efforts of the United States aimed at achieving a diplomatic settlement.
Increased pressure on Moscow
During the negotiations, Merz also stated that pressure on Moscow must be intensified in order to achieve progress in negotiations with the Russian Federation.
“Russia is dragging out time and, by doing so, is acting against the will of the American president. Today I called for increased pressure on Moscow,” he emphasised. In his opinion, only pressure from Washington can force the Russian leadership to make concessions.
Europe’s role in a peaceful settlement
The Chancellor added that Europe must actively participate in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which are being conducted with the mediation of the United States.
“Trump knows that only a peace supported and legitimised by Europe can truly be long-term. He also knows that Europe’s contribution to Ukraine’s security, reconstruction and European integration will be simply indispensable for that peace,” Merz stated. Thus, Germany’s position reflects the European Union’s intention to be a full participant in the process of resolving the conflict and to ensure that Europe’s interests are taken into account.
It should be recalled that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently demonstrated that statistics matter, but impressions are stronger: while presenting achievements in combating illegal migration, he turned his report into an effective public performance. It should also be noted that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highly praised the actions of Ukrainian troops in February, emphasising that the country’s defence had been more effective than is usually reflected in the media, while also noting significant territorial successes and a noticeable impact of the conflict on Russia’s economy.
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