German Chancellor opposes Ukraine’s capitulation, warns Russia could use time to prepare for new war

Germany does not want peace between Ukraine and Russia at any cost, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday, warning that a Ukrainian capitulation would give Moscow time to prepare for another conflict.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the leaders of France, Poland, and Moldova, Merz emphasised that while the war in Ukraine must come to an end, it cannot happen “at any price.”

“We do not want Ukraine’s capitulation. Such a surrender would only give Russia time, and Putin would use that time to prepare for the next war”, Merz stated.

Earlier the German Chancellor also noted that a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia remained far off. He added Russia would face consequences if President Vladimir Putin refused to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russia’s current demands to end the war include a full withdrawal of Ukrainian defenders from Donetsk and Luhansk, while Moscow proposes freezing the front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Russia’s proposals effectively amount to Ukraine’s capitulation. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has stressed that Russia’s “preparedness” cannot come at the cost of Ukrainian concessions.