Overview

• In a recorded interview for ProSiebenSat.1/:newstime, Chancellor Friedrich Merz escalated his rhetoric by personally labeling Vladimir Putin a war criminal.
• Merz said he sees no reason to trust Putin and asserted that Moscow currently has no incentive to pursue a ceasefire or peace agreement with Ukraine.
• He proposed driving an economic exhaustion of Russia, including imposing tariffs on those who continue to trade with the country.
• The chancellor ruled out deploying German troops to Ukraine before any ceasefire and said there are no concrete plans in Germany to send forces.
• Merz argued that Russia is gaining territory in Ukraine and regaining diplomatic standing abroad, reinforcing his push for stronger economic pressure.