Germany’s Merz Says Ukrainian Capitulation ‘Not an Option’ and Warns of Russian Efforts to Destabilize Europe
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says a surrender by Ukraine would amount to a surrender for Europe as a whole and names Russian destabilization of European societies as his biggest concern, even ahead of economic issues or China.
Germany’s chancellor is sharpening his public stance on the stakes of the war in Ukraine and on Russian pressure inside Europe.
Friedrich Merz said that “a surrender, or even an unconditional surrender, for Ukraine is not an option, because this would be a surrender of all of us.” In comments reported separately, he described his “biggest concern” as the impact of Russia on European societies and said Moscow is succeeding in destabilizing them.
By tying Ukraine’s fate directly to that of other European states, Merz is sending a message that allowing Kyiv to capitulate would not only be a blow to Ukraine but would also weaken Europe’s broader security and political position.
Merz contrasted this focus on Russia with his view of China. He said his main concern is not the economy, the European Union, the United States or China, but Russia’s influence. At the same time, he argued that Europe should keep markets open to Chinese companies, unlike the more restrictive approach he attributed to the United States.
Merz noted that no EU member state still has a trade surplus with China and that the combined deficit is more than €300 billion a year, which he said works out to almost €1 billion a day. He linked that imbalance to industrial overcapacity, heavy subsidies in sectors such as automotive, and what he called an artificially undervalued Chinese currency.
These comments outline a position in which Berlin sees Russia mainly as a direct security and political threat while treating China primarily as a difficult but necessary economic partner.
Key developments to watch will be how other EU leaders respond to Merz’s framing, whether similar language appears in joint European statements on Ukraine, and how his remarks shape upcoming debates on further support to Kyiv and on trade policy with China.
Sources
- OSINT