German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today that he was prepared for a prolonged war in Ukraine, as wars usually end in military defeat or economic exhaustion, and he does not see such scenarios on the horizon for either Kiev or Moscow, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Merz's comments come a day before the deadline set by US President Donald Trump for a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine in order to pave the way for peace talks. Trump threatened "consequences" if the meeting did not take place.
Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was to blame and called on the United States to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow.
"Inside, I am preparing myself for the fact that this war will last a long time," Merz said in an interview with public television station Cette DF.
An attempt is being made through intensive diplomatic initiatives to end the war as quickly as possible, but this cannot be "at the cost of Ukraine's surrender" because then Russia will simply turn its attention elsewhere, he said.
"And then it will be our turn," Merz added. "This is not an option."
In the interview, he declined to comment on the possible deployment of German troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees in the event of a peace deal.
Britain and France are leading the proposal for a "deterrence force" to deter potential future Russian aggression, but the prospect of Germany joining them has raised concerns in a country scarred by its Nazi past.
The Kremlin said on Monday that European powers were hindering Trump's peace efforts and that Russia would continue its operation in Ukraine until Moscow saw real signs that Kiev was ready for peace, Reuters noted.