Merz does not expect a quick ceasefire in Ukraine

In the Ukraine If the silence of the weapons has moved back to a long time. According to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz ((CDU) currently there is no legitimate hope for a ceasefire. « If the Russian side is not even willing to accept the Vatican, it shows us that Putin and Russia obviously have no interest in getting a break here, » said Merz on Tuesday during a visit to Finland. According to Merz, the story shows that wars often came to an end because of the exhaustion of the warring parties. « We are obviously far from that in this war, and that’s why I expect that we have to adjust for a long time. »

At the beginning of May, with the support of the USA Putin, the Europeans had emphasized a 30-day ceasefire to find a basis for peace negotiations. The West threatened Russia with a continuous tightening of the economic sanctions.

At home, the chancellor’s decision ensures moods at the coalition partner SPD

But while the EU attracted the punitive measures, changed US President Donald Trump his opinion And did nothing like that. Russia answered the offer with difficult attacks on civilian destinations in Ukraine with drones and rockets. In Finland, the Federal Chancellor confirmed his directional decision from the previous day, according to which the Ukrainian armed forces are allowed to use the weapons delivered by Germany even against military goals in Russian hinterland. « Anyone who only fends off an attack on their own territory cannot defend themselves enough, » said Merz. His predecessor Olaf Scholz ((SPD) had refused this permission from Ukraine because it feared that Germany could be drawn into war. Only in the Charkiw region was it allowed to take the Ukrainian army into Russia with German weapons. Friedrich Merz left open whether the abolition of the so-called range restriction in a second step means that Germany delivers the Taurus missiles to Ukraine. They have a range of 500 kilometers and could specifically hit Russian barracks.

At home, the chancellor’s decision ensures moods at the coalition partner SPD. Ex-parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich defended Olaf Scholz’s reach restriction in an interview. « I would ask the federal government to currently participate in the diplomatic efforts, » said Mützenich on Deutschlandfunk.

The Kremlin warned the federal government of the change of direction. « They are quite dangerous decisions when they existed, » said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow. The war in Ukraine has been going on for more than three years. Russia has conquered a fifth of the country with enormous losses. Ukraine has so far fended off another advancement of the Russian troops to the west.