Germany and the United States agree on the need to end Russia's war against Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated following his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
During his visit to the White House, Merz urged the American president to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin and insisted that Europe must be involved in any peace negotiations. The Chancellor emphasized that Ukraine will not agree to further territorial concessions beyond the areas already effectively occupied by Russian forces.
"We all want this war to end as quickly as possible. But Ukraine must preserve its territory and its security interests, and we will talk about that," Merz said at the start of the talks.
When asked by reporters where ending the war in Ukraine ranks among his priorities, Trump assured that the issue remains a top focus. "As far as Russia and Ukraine, where is that on my priority list? Very high. I thought it would be one of the easiest. I finished eight wars, and maybe one more," Trump stated, noting the "highest level of hatred" between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin.
Addressing the press after the meeting, Merz warned that Russia is stalling for time, effectively acting against the American president's will. He argued that only increased pressure from Washington would force Moscow to make genuine concessions.
"This war must end not to give Russia a breather and allow it to rebuild, but to end it for good," Merz stated. He firmly rejected the idea of a bilateral U.S.-Russia deal, stressing that any resolution must reflect the interests of all European nations. "We are not ready to accept an agreement that was concluded without our participation," he added.
Merz left Washington confident that the U.S. administration now has a deeper understanding of the critical situation. Using maps of the frontline and highlighting Ukraine's strategic access to the Black Sea, the Chancellor presented Trump with a detailed analysis, reiterating the firm European stance on securing Ukraine's future.