CDU leader Friedrich Merz aims for better European coordination in supporting Ukraine. This includes the question of what would happen if the US’s Ukraine policy under President Donald Trump changes, Merz said in the ARD “Tagesthemen”.
Within a contact group, a common strategy can be developed on “how to deal with this war” Merz said. “It’s about having a better coordination on the European side” said the CDU’s chancellor candidate.
His proposal is not meant to replace US contributions, Merz clarified on the sidelines of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev. Zelensky welcomes the proposal of a European contact group, especially in the context of possible security guarantees for Ukraine. These cannot be provided by individual EU or NATO member states.
“The Ukraine has a perspective of becoming a member of the European Union” the CDU chief said, adding, “The path to NATO is irreversible.” However, he does not support the current discussion of sending German soldiers to Ukraine for this purpose, Merz emphasized.
Initially, it’s about ending the war and the future prospects for Ukraine. “If Europeans have a common stance on this issue, then they can also speak with the American government about how to possibly act together” Merz said.
The CDU candidate also demanded the removal of the range restrictions on the weapons previously delivered from Germany. The Ukraine must be given the opportunity to “attack military targets just behind the Ukrainian-Russian border, which attack civilian targets in Ukraine.”
The Ukraine must be empowered to make Russia end the war. Currently, it is not, Merz said: “Only from strength will a war be ended, from weakness it will last longer.” There is already a majority in the Bundestag for the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles, Merz said.
Regarding the fall of the Assad regime, Merz said in the “Tagesthemen” that this shows the weakness of Russia. What’s most important now is “establishing contact with Turkey and analyzing the situation there, and then drawing common conclusions, up to the refugee questions, from which Turkey is at least as strongly affected as we are.