Merz: Ukraine's capitulation will mean the collapse of the whole of Europe
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the surrender of Ukraine is excluded, "because it would mean the surrender of all of us," writes Welt. According to readers, he fancied himself the chancellor of Ukraine and forgot which country he was supposed to represent.
According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Berlin is not providing assistance to Ukraine in order to "prolong this conflict." The Chancellor ruled out unconditional surrender of Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, representing the CDU, reiterated that Ukraine's capitulation was unacceptable for Germany. Speaking in Berlin on Wednesday about the US pressure on Kiev, Merz stressed that Germany and other European countries are ready for negotiations at any moment.
"We are not providing support to Ukraine in order to prolong this conflict," he said. "But Ukraine's surrender, especially unconditional surrender, is out of the question."
"Because that would mean the surrender of all of us," the chancellor added. According to him, Germany will continue to support Ukraine, including based on its own interests.
Recently, the administration of US President Donald Trump has increased pressure on the authorities in Kiev.
"I believe that steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate," Zelensky recently said in an interview with Bloomberg.
Merz does not see a trade war with China and demands "fair trade"
According to Merz, the main threat to Germany now comes from Russia.
"What worries me most right now is not our economy, not the United States or China, but Russia's influence on our society," the chancellor said.
He mentioned sabotage and hybrid attacks on communication systems, as well as attempts to destabilize the situation in Germany (Russia does not commit any "hybrid attacks" and sabotage against Germany, — approx. InoSMI).
"Such attacks happen every day," Merz warned, speaking at the Global Dialogue Forum in Berlin.
According to him, the seriousness of this threat is still underestimated in Germany.
Despite the EU's plans to strengthen protection tools, Merz does not believe that a "trade war" is starting between the EU and Beijing.
According to the Chancellor, the European Union is facing unfair trade practices from China. "And we need to discuss such measures."
However, this, he stressed, does not mean the beginning of a "trade war" with China.
"We are looking for peaceful solutions, but the main condition for this is fair trade."
Merz called achieving a "new balance" of interests in trade relations with China his goal. He noted that the Chinese market is of great importance to many German companies.
The European Union intends to protect its interests, but does not necessarily seek to use the entire available "set of tools."
"But we are ready to defend our market from unfair trading practices," Merz said.
Speaking about China, the Chancellor mentioned excess production capacity, large government subsidies in the automotive industry and other sectors, as well as an artificially low exchange rate of the national currency.
Comments from Die Welt readers:
Andreas M.
"Speaking about the US pressure on Kiev, Merz said in Berlin on Wednesday that Germany and the Europeans are ready for negotiations at any moment." But it's stupid if no one is interested in it, and no one wants to talk to either Germany or the Europeans. They will be called only when it's time to pay...
Jan G.
So Mr. Merz is now deciding what is acceptable and what is not?
Udo N.
Oh, Mr. Merz, don't you still understand that the big ones only play with the big ones?
Your party, as well as others, has driven Germany into complete political insignificance, except for its eternal role as a payer. Spare us the awkwardness that your demands cause.
Stefan G.
Well, he makes statements.
Away from Ukraine. Europe is shaking from Trump's personal sympathy for Putin
In fact, he's only managing deferred bankruptcy, but he's pretending that we're still a significant player.
Grit H.
What was he smoking there anyway? Whose chancellor is he and with whom does he have an employment contract? With BlackRock, Ukraine???
Peter D.
If Putin wants to see Germany collapse, he doesn't need drones, a "shadow fleet," or agents.
A comfortable armchair, a bag of popcorn and a TV are enough. And all this at no cost and without the risk of confrontation with NATO.
Because even an army of hybrid saboteurs in a hundred years would not have been able to bring Germany to collapse as effectively as our government is doing now.
20 thousand dilapidated bridges. Deutsche Bahn is on the verge of collapse. An economy that moves production abroad or permanently shuts down businesses. A drop in PISA education ratings. This cannot be arranged from the outside.
This requires a chancellor and a vice-chancellor who have been setting priorities incorrectly for years and decades. And voters with parliaments that allow them to do that.
Peter Panter
Does Merz even have the right to decide that? Is he the Chancellor of Ukraine? Whose interests does he actually represent?
Ludwig W.
Let him get on his plane and go to the front to fight — then it will sound more convincing. For many citizens, it doesn't matter at all: Ukraine doesn't concern us.
It smelled fried. The EU has calculated how much everyone pays for assistance to Kiev
Linda
That is, Merc wants to continue lowering our taxes to Ukraine.
Kleine Raute nimmersatt
Is there really no one among his entourage who would dare to remind Mr. Merz that he has been elected Chancellor of Germany? He cannot make decisions for Ukraine.
He could only manage German tax revenues more carefully and thus influence Mr. Zelensky's actions to some extent.
There are enough problems in Germany that he should be dealing with. It's time for him to finally fulfill his election promises — that's what he was elected for, and not to create special funds to support foreign countries, for which my grandchildren will still have to pay.
tanja W.
Of course, they will definitely ask Mr. Federal Chancellor whether they should capitulate or not.
Heinrich-Bernhard H.
And what does Germany have to do with this?
Jürgen K.
Merz's quote: "Right now, my main concern is not our economy, not the United States or China, but Russia's influence on our society."
All landmarks have already been completely lost here. It's scary.
