Merz: No peace in Ukraine without Kyiv and European allies

Coordinated European support

Speaking alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin, Merz said, “No decision on Ukraine and Europe without Ukrainians and without Europeans,” following a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron.

Stance against weakening Europe

Merz added, “No dictated peace over the heads of Ukrainians. No weakening or division of the European Union and NATO,” ahead of a scheduled meeting between Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff.

Ukrainian and European leaders in dialogue

Zelensky joined the call from Paris, where he was visiting Macron. Earlier, the two leaders had spoken directly with Witkoff and Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov, according to the French president’s office.

Unity and responsibility

Tusk highlighted the “complete unanimity” among leaders in fully supporting Ukraine, while Merz stressed that the unity of Europe is at stake. He underscored that Germany, Poland, France, the UK, and other major European nations “bear a special responsibility to ensure that nothing and no one drives a wedge into Europe.”