The key facts

  • Merz, at the congress of the youth organization of the CDU/CSU, called for continued support for Ukraine
  • He accused the AfD and the Left party of 'downplaying the situation' regarding Russia
  • BND head Martin Jäger previously warned a parliamentary committee about a more dangerous quality of confrontation with Russia

Merz's statement in Berlin

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday once again called for continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Speaking at the congress of the youth organization of the CDU and its sister party the CSU in Berlin, he said: 'We must not leave this country and its people to their fate. And we will not do so.' According to Anadolu, Germany has remained one of Ukraine's main military allies since February 2022, supplying weapons systems, ammunition and significant financial assistance, as well as joining Western sanctions against Moscow.

Criticism of the opposition and assessment of the threat

Merz also criticized the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the left-wing party Die Linke for 'downplaying the situation' regarding Russia. 'What we are now observing from Russia is not just calling into question the territorial integrity of Ukraine. What we are observing from Russia is a daily undermining of our democracy, our values and our way of life. And we are now fighting back against this,' the chancellor said.

Intelligence warning

Merz's statements came after recent remarks by the head of Germany's foreign intelligence service. President of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) Martin Jäger told the parliamentary intelligence committee that the confrontation with Russia has acquired a new, more dangerous quality, and warned of the risk of being drawn into an armed conflict, noting that Moscow now views Berlin as its main adversary.