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German Chancellor Merz: The West Won’t Let Putin Dictate Ukraine’s Future
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on November 26 that Russian leader Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to exit the war in Ukraine on terms that could be interpreted as a success.
According to Reuters, Merz stressed that any potential peace agreement must receive explicit consent from both Ukraine and European countries to be considered viable.
“We want this war to end as quickly as possible. But an agreement concluded between major powers without the consent of Ukraine and without the consent of Europeans will not form the basis for a genuine, lasting peace in Ukraine,” Merz told the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament.
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Merz made the remarks during a parliamentary debate on Germany’s 2026 federal budget, which includes expanded financial support for Ukraine.
As reported by Reuters, he said that preserving peace in Europe remains a core objective of his administration but warned against any settlement that would amount to Ukraine’s capitulation.
He emphasized that Europe should not be sidelined in the process: “European matters can only be decided with the agreement of Europe. Europe is not a pawn, but a sovereign player with its own interests and values.”
According to Reuters, Merz confirmed that Germany plans to increase its support for Ukraine to €11.5 billion in 2026, compared to the previously planned €8.5 billion. He also endorsed the use of frozen Russian sovereign assets to help fund Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction efforts.
“Germany will continue to support the Ukrainian people for as long as necessary,” he said, adding that Berlin is ready to make use of blocked Russian funds for this purpose.
Addressing Russia’s strategic goals, Merz argued that Putin must “recognize that he has no chance of winning this war at the expense of Europe’s order of freedom and peace,” as cited by Reuters.
Earlier, on November 23, the European Union formally joined Ukraine peace negotiations in Switzerland for the first time. EU leaders described the talks as gaining “constructive momentum,” with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasizing that only Ukraine can determine its future.
European Council President António Costa called the Geneva meeting a “significant step forward,” while leaders including Donald Tusk and Ulf Kristersson urged continued pressure on Russia and the use of frozen assets to support Ukraine.
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