German Chancellor urges tougher pressure on Russia after meeting with Trump
Photo: Friedrich Merz (GettyImages)
After meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on March 3, Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Europe would not allow agreements on Ukraine to be concluded without taking its position into account, Reuters reports.
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Europe must participate in decisions regarding Ukraine
"There will be no agreement without European participation," Merz says, emphasizing that any agreements on the Ukrainian issue must reflect the interests of all European countries.
The Chancellor stresses that the opinion of Europeans should be taken into account on a par with US efforts towards a diplomatic settlement.
Increased pressure on Moscow
During the talks, Merz also emphasized the need to increase pressure on Moscow to make progress in negotiations.
"Russia is stalling for time and, in doing so, is acting against the will of the American President. Today, I called for increased pressure on Moscow!" he stresses.
In his opinion, only pressure from Washington can force the Russian leadership to make concessions.
Europe's role in peaceful settlement
The Chancellor adds that Europe should actively participate in the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, which the USA is mediating.
"Trump knows that only peace supported and legitimized by Europe can be truly long-term. He also knows that Europe's contribution to Ukraine's security, recovery, and European integration will be simply indispensable for this peace," Merz says.
Thus, Germany's position reflects the EU's desire to be a full participant in the conflict resolution process and to ensure that Europe's interests are taken into account.
Friedrich Merz demonstrated that statistics are important, but impressions are stronger: when talking about successes in the fight against illegal migration, he turned his report into a spectacular public speech.
German Chancellor praised the actions of Ukrainian troops in February, emphasizing that the country's defense was more effective than usually reported in the media, while noting significant territorial gains and the tangible impact of the conflict on Russia's economy.
