Overview

• Friedrich Merz, the German opposition leader and CDU chief, insists that any German participation in a Ukraine peacekeeping force requires an unambiguous international legal mandate, ideally agreed upon with Russia.
• Merz underscores that peace in Ukraine must not be imposed on the country and should address broader European security concerns, including hybrid threats like cyberattacks attributed to Russia.
• He reiterates that Germany will not become a combatant in the Ukraine conflict but supports supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine, aligning with actions by the U.S., France, and the UK.
• Merz urges the EU and NATO, particularly in collaboration with the UK, to prepare strategies for potential policy shifts in U.S. Ukraine support following Donald Trump's upcoming presidency.
• He rejects the need for a new special fund for Ukraine aid or defense spending, advocating instead for financing through Germany's existing budget while meeting NATO's 2% GDP defense commitment.