Friedrich Merz Insists on Ceasing Fire in Ukraine: Europe’s Stance and Disagreements with Trump
As the international community increasingly focuses on finding solutions to the conflict in Ukraine, German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has firmly stated that a ceasefire must be a prerequisite for any peace negotiations with Russia.
During a press conference ahead of the meeting of leaders from the USA, Ukraine, the European Commission, and other major nations, Merz emphasized that all European countries stand united in their support for a ceasefire, asserting that it should be the foundational step for any diplomatic efforts moving forward.
He highlighted that this position reflects the views of the European public and that any subsequent negotiation rounds would be impossible without clear agreements on ending hostilities.Merz called for applying pressure on Russia to compel it to honor commitments to stop the war, emphasizing that trust between the conflicting sides largely depends on this initial step—an unequivocal ceasefire that would serve as the launch point for more substantive negotiations.
He stressed that the upcoming meeting, planned between Zelensky, Putin, and other diplomats, must occur under conditions of full ceasefire; otherwise, any agreements would be meaningless.Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump expressed the view that negotiations could proceed without a ceasefire, citing his experience of ‘ending six wars.’ He argued that his approach involved signing agreements and treaties without historical breaks in fighting.
Trump referenced the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, claiming it ‘ended a week ago’ without an official ceasefire, despite the fact that a ceasefire has been in place for some time and has enabled negotiations for peace.
Despite Trump’s efforts to showcase his diplomatic ‘victories,’ facts indicate no significant changes occurred, and ceasefires remain a vital component of peace efforts.
The political and diplomatic disagreements at the highest levels reaffirm the complexity of achieving lasting peace, especially amid active involvement from the US, EU, and Russia in the process.