Merkel Confident: Putin Has No Grounds to Cease War with Ukraine
The German government leader and one of the country’s most influential politicians, Friedrich Merz, has made a clear statement regarding the prospects of ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to him, Vladimir Putin currently lacks any compelling reasons to stop the war or to negotiate peace with Ukraine.
This statement was made during his interview with the German TV channel Sat.1, where he emphasized that the Russian dictator would only be willing to engage in negotiations if it benefits him personally.Merkel pointed out that Putin, driven by his ambitions and strategic goals, is actively waging war, conquering new territories, and considers this pursuit as a priority.
He stated that Putin’s personal politics determines his attitude towards international negotiations.
“He is only ready for discussions when he is confident that they are advantageous for him.
At this moment, from his perspective, the war is beneficial because it allows territorial expansion and demonstrates strength and power,” the politician explained.The chancellor also noted that to change the Kremlin’s stance, conditions need to be created that would force Russia to seek a way out of the war.
The main strategy, according to Merkel, involves applying economic sanctions and measures that would exhaust the Russian military economy.
Merkel suggested that imposing tariffs on countries that continue actively trading with Russia could become a key lever of pressure.Overall, Merkel emphasized that internal and external factors should serve as incentives for Russia to seek compromise.
He believes that only through economic pressure can the situation be moved from deadlock and push the Kremlin towards peace negotiations.
He also recalled that he previously expressed cautious doubts about quick changes in this area, including the possibility of Germany providing military support to Ukraine.Thus, Merkel’s position reflects a long-term strategic outlook on the ongoing conflict and highlights the importance of economic tools in achieving peace.