German Chancellor Friedrich Merz claimed on Wednesday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict have been “exhausted” and vowed that Berlin would continue supporting Ukraine with military aid.
“We will continue to help Ukraine even against the resistance from the political left and the Russia-friendly right here in the house. We will continue this support,” Merz said in a speech at the German parliament.
“And let me make it even clearer: the means of diplomacy have been exhausted,” he added.
Merz’s comments come after President Trump said he would send additional weapons to Ukraine after his administration placed a brief pause on some arms shipments. Peace efforts appear to have stalled as either side remains very far apart on the conditions to end the war, and the US and its NATO allies appear ready to continue fueling the conflict. Russia launched a major drone attack on Wednesday, and fighting continues to rage across the frontline.
Germany is Ukraine’s largest weapons supplier in Europe, and President Trump is reportedly asking Berlin to send a Patriot missile defense battery to Ukraine as US stockpiles of the air defense system are extremely low following the 12-day US-Israeli war on Iran, which involved an Iranian retaliatory attack on a US airbase in Qatar.
Merz also hosted NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, and the NATO chief claimed during a press conference with the German leader that if China invaded Taiwan, it could lead to a Russian invasion of Europe.
“Xi Jinping, the president of China, before he would attack Taiwan, he will first make a call into Moscow to ask Putin to keep us busy in this part of Europe,” Rutte said.
