Merz: Ukraine must be part of peace talks for just peace
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the CDU/CSU bloc, which won the parliamentary elections in Germany, has said on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Ukraine should be part of peace negotiations to achieve a just peace.
The potential next German chancellor stated that after three years of Russia's war of aggression, Europe remains firmly on the side of Ukraine.
"Now, more than ever, we must put Ukraine in a strong position. To achieve a just peace, the country under attack must be part of the peace negotiations," Friedrich Merz said on X (Twitter).
Drei Jahre russischer Angriffskrieg gegen die #Ukraine. Drei Jahre Krieg in Europa. Seit drei Jahren begleiten uns die schrecklichen Bilder von Zerstörung und Kriegsverbrechen. Europa steht unverändert fest an der Seite der Ukraine. Es gilt mehr denn je: Wir müssen die Ukraine in…
– Friedrich Merz (@_FriedrichMerz) February 24, 2025
The centre-right Christian Democrats CDU/CSU bloc won the most votes in the 23 February election, and Merz is expected to become Germany's next chancellor.
On Sunday evening, Merz promised to strengthen European independence from the US and questioned the future of NATO.