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Merz Says Forcing Ukraine to Surrender Would Be a Defeat for All of Europe
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said continued support for Ukraine is firmly in Germany’s own national interest and is intended to bring Russia’s war of aggression to an end as quickly as possible—not prolong it.
But forcing Kyiv to surrender, he warned, would amount to a defeat for Europe as a whole.
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“We support Ukraine not to prolong this war. We are doing so to end it as quickly as possible. But capitulation, or even unconditional capitulation, by Ukraine is not an option, because that would mean the capitulation of all of us,” Merz said during a discussion at the Berlin Global Dialogue, according to Ukrinform on October 21.
The chancellor said Germany therefore intends to continue providing substantial support to Ukraine, framing that assistance not simply as solidarity with Kyiv but as a direct investment in Germany’s own security.
“That is precisely why I support Ukraine so decisively. It is in our own interest. It is absolutely in our own interest,” Merz said.
His remarks came as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue. Merz referred to talks held the previous evening in Oslo involving President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US representatives, and European officials, saying the discussions had produced some movement.
“Yesterday evening in Oslo, there was a meeting with Zelenskyy, with our representatives from Europe, and we made some progress in this discussion. We are always ready for negotiations,” he said.
Merz stressed, however, that Europe cannot view Russia’s aggression as a problem limited to Ukraine. In his assessment, Moscow is challenging the broader European political and security system that emerged after the Cold War.
“This is not just a war in Ukraine. It is a fundamental attack against the entire political order that we achieved after 1990,” the German chancellor said.
He also warned that Russia poses a wider threat to security and freedom across Europe through hybrid operations, including sabotage, cyberattacks, drone activity, and disinformation.
For Berlin, Merz argued, supporting Ukraine is therefore inseparable from defending Europe’s own political order and security. Ending the war remains the goal—but not on terms that leave Ukraine forced into surrender and Russia rewarded for aggression.
Previously, Merz warned against complacency over the threat from Moscow, saying Russian leader Vladimir Putin aims not only to defeat Ukraine but also to undermine democracy across Europe.
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