Merz on the conditions of peace in Ukraine: An agreement is impossible without Kyiv's consent.

Merz: Putin must recognize the impossibility of ending the war on his terms

According to ТСН: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin must understand: it is impossible to end the war against Ukraine on his terms. He stressed that an agreement made without Ukraine's consent cannot serve as the basis for true and lasting peace.

Merz expressed his opinion in the Bundestag, highlighting the importance of genuine peace:

“We want this war to end as soon as possible. But an agreement made by great powers without Ukraine's consent and without the consent of Europeans cannot serve as the foundation for true, lasting peace in Ukraine.”

The Chancellor also noted that Putin must realize the limitations of his options regarding the conflict's conclusion. In his view,

“Decisions regarding European issues can only be made by mutual consent. Ukraine is not a pawn; it is a sovereign entity that defends its own interests and values.”

He emphasized that Germany will continue to support the Ukrainian people, promising to use frozen Russian assets for this purpose. Germany plans to increase its financial assistance to Ukraine to 11.5 billion euros in the 2026 budget, which is a significant increase compared to the previous 8.5 billion euros.

Moreover, Merz noted that to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Kremlin must demonstrate a sincere intention to negotiate. He stated that

“it is impossible to immediately stop the conflict, and the peace initiative aims to start the process.”

At the same time, reports indicate that following a meeting in Geneva, Kyiv agreed to a peace agreement proposed by the United States, reaching

“a common understanding”

Additionally, Alexander Bevz, an advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, emphasized that under a potential peace agreement, Ukraine will not agree to recognize Russian occupation of any territories and will refuse changes to the Constitution. He stressed that sensitive points of the peace plan should be discussed directly between the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States.

In the current situation, Germany's position has become an important signal of global support for Ukraine. Given the promised financial assistance and the refusal to compromise on territorial integrity, Berlin is demonstrating determination in upholding the principles of international law. The next actions of the participants in the peace negotiations will be crucial for the further development of the situation in the region.