German Chancellor Merz Declares Ukraine War Will End Only When Russia Is Exhausted
At the Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered a stark assessment of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating that Russia's war will "only end when Russia is at least economically, potentially militarily, exhausted." This statement came as the conference, described by Merz as a seismograph for US-European relations, placed the Ukraine-Russia war high on its agenda on day 1,452 of the conflict.
European Leaders Unite in Support for Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron reinforced the European stance, asserting that any peace settlement must protect Ukraine, preserve European security, and disincentivize Russia from future invasions. He warned against urging Ukraine to accept defeat, calling it a "huge strategic mistake." Macron emphasized that peace negotiations must involve Europe, stating, "You can negotiate without the Europeans, if you prefer, but it will not bring a peace at the table." Several top European leaders were scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the conference to discuss the conflict.
Zelenskyy's Conditions for Elections and Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the conference, outlining that Ukraine could hold elections if a two to three month ceasefire with Russia was established. He expressed willingness to hold a poll "as quick as possible" but stressed the necessity of security guarantees and an end to the war first. Zelenskyy noted that compromises have already been made, including not imprisoning Putin and his allies, which he described as "the biggest compromise that the world made already." He also commented on Russia's territorial demands, highlighting Moscow's ambitions to acquire Ukraine piece by piece.
International Diplomatic and Military Developments
Diplomatic efforts continued as Ukraine's foreign minister Andriy Sybiga discussed ending the invasion with China's foreign minister Wang Yi, who offered new humanitarian aid from Beijing. Meanwhile, diplomatic negotiations on Ukraine are set to occur in Geneva, with a US delegation including envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participating in trilateral talks with Russian and Ukrainian representatives. On the military front, Britain announced an additional £540 million in weapons for Ukraine, including £150 million for US-made interceptors through a NATO funding scheme—a first for the UK—and £390 million for 1,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles from Belfast to bolster air defences.
Ongoing Violence and Regional Impact
The conflict's toll was evident as a Ukrainian missile attack killed two people and injured five in the Russian city of Belgorod near the border. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that the victims were crew members restoring damaged heating and electricity networks, with restoration work paused due to safety concerns. This incident underscores the persistent violence and humanitarian challenges as the war enters its fifth year, with European leaders like Merz noting it has forced Europe "to return from a vacation from world history."
