German Chancellor urges Trump to pressure Moscow on Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged U.S. President Donald Trump to put more pressure on Moscow and called for Europe to be included in negotiations for a peace solution in Ukraine, according to dpa, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

“We are not prepared to accept an agreement negotiated over our heads,” Merz said in Washington after a meeting with Trump at the White House.

According to Merz, Trump understands that “only a peace supported and legitimized by Europe can truly be sustainable.” He added that the American president also agrees that Europe’s contributions to Ukraine’s security, reconstruction, and European integration “are simply indispensable.”

Without the European Union and close partners such as the United Kingdom, “it will not work,” Merz emphasized.

Currently, Germany is by far the most important supporter of Ukraine in military, financial, and political terms, the German Chancellor said, adding: “My impression is that President Trump knows this very well.”

Merz noted that Russia’s economy is visibly weakened after four years of war, and its military has suffered human losses beyond expectations.

“The Russian giant stands on feet of clay, which is why efforts were necessary to find solutions that include Europeans,” he said.

Only when Washington applies pressure on Russia again will President Vladimir Putin be willing to make concessions, the German Chancellor believes.

The war started by Moscow must end, “not pause for Russia and then continue, but it must end once and for all,” Merz demanded. He said he agrees with Trump on this point, dpa also reports.