The key facts
- Merz called Ukraine's strikes on targets in Russia 'right and sensible'
- He said Russia is escalating the conflict ahead of winter
- Support for Ukraine, according to Merz, is needed to bring Russia to negotiations
Merz backed strikes on Russian refineries
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking to journalists on Friday after the EU summit in Brussels, defended Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries. According to him, such attacks are justified because they weaken Moscow's ability to wage war.
Statements about Russia's position
Merz said he sees no willingness on the Russian side, including President Vladimir Putin, to end the conflict. On the contrary, in his view, Moscow is trying to escalate hostilities ahead of winter. 'Above all, Ukraine's entire energy infrastructure is suffering large-scale damage, and the transmission networks are also being attacked. Every effort is being made to make winter as difficult as possible for the country,' the chancellor said.
Justification of strikes and support for Ukraine
Against this backdrop, Merz noted, it is 'entirely right, sensible and understandable' that Ukraine strikes targets on Russian territory that hinder the war efforts of the Russian government and army. 'This concerns both communications and energy supply.' In his view, this is Ukraine's only opportunity to show Russia that it is ready to defend itself seriously. The chancellor confirmed that Europe and Germany will continue to support Ukraine: 'But we are doing this not to prolong the war, but to bring Russia to the negotiating table.'
