German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expresses skepticism over a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, citing a lack of interest from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at the Nordic Summit in Turku, Finland, on Tuesday, Merz stated that if the Russian side is unwilling to accept an invitation from the Vatican or even consider a Vatican-mediated meeting on a different territory, it indicates that Putin and Russia are not currently interested in a ceasefire, let alone a peace agreement.
According to the Chancellor, this means that Ukraine must continue to defend itself and that Germany’s efforts to support Ukraine should be intensified to enable the country’s defense.
Historically, wars have often ended due to economic or military exhaustion, Merz noted. However, he believes that the current conflict is far from reaching a point of exhaustion and therefore, the possibility of a longer duration of the war cannot be ruled out. Notwithstanding this, Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine remains unwavering.