Merz Says White House Tense Debate Was a Calculated Escalation

The leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and future chancellor, Friedrich Merz, suspects that the controversy surrounding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House was deliberately orchestrated by the U.S. side. Merz made this statement on March 3 in Berlin, according to European Pravda.

He said he had rewatched footage of Trump and Zelenskyy’s meeting in the Oval Office several times.

“In my view, there was no spontaneous reaction to Zelenskyy’s remarks during that meeting. Rather, it appeared to be a calculated escalation. Typically, press meetings of this kind last only a few minutes. Friday’s event was different,” Merz noted.

He added that he was “quite surprised, including by the tone of the exchange on both sides.”

According to Merz, the confrontation between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump aligns with the broader behavior of the current U.S. administration.

“There is a clear pattern in recent weeks and months, including the American delegation’s presence at the Munich Security Conference, and now we are seeing it again from Washington,” he said.

Merz sees this as a worrying signal for Europe and its defense capabilities.

“I believe we must prepare for the reality that in the coming years and decades, we will need to do much, much more for our own security,” he stated.

At the same time, he stressed the importance of keeping the U.S. engaged in Europe. “We must do everything possible to keep the Americans in Europe,” Merz said, adding that he believes the U.S. is also interested in maintaining this presence.

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine’s partnership with the United States remains strong and that Washington’s support will continue, he told British journalists at Stansted Airport on March 2.