Ukraine War Reaching Germany? Merz’s Prediction

Friedrich Merz, Germany’s Chancellor, on the eve of the Ukraine conflict entering its fifth year, asserted that Russia has not waged war solely against Ukraine, but that “this aggression is part of the Kremlin’s agenda against other European countries.”

According to Rokna, Deutsche Welle reported that in his New Year’s address to German citizens, Merz highlighted that the Russia-Ukraine war is not far from Germany.

The German Chancellor stated: “Russia continues its aggressive war against Ukraine with relentless violence. For the fourth consecutive year, Ukrainians will celebrate the New Year under the most adverse conditions—many without electricity, under missile fire, and fearful for the fate of friends and family.”

He added that this war directly threatens the freedom and security not only of Germany but of the entire European continent.

Merz also spoke about increased defense expenditures and a new conscription system in Germany, saying: “I know that due to global uncertainty, many citizens are concerned about the issue of peace. I assure you: we are taking care of our security.”

Merz’s remarks come after reports of an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian President’s residence, occurring amid U.S.-Kyiv negotiations regarding the Washington peace initiative, which intensified tensions between the parties.

Moscow has described the alleged strike as a sign of Ukraine’s reluctance for peace and has promised a retaliatory attack on Kyiv government buildings at an appropriate time.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has denied that any such attack was carried out by its armed forces. All drones in the alleged attack were intercepted and caused no damage.

Negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine on the Washington peace plan—which includes limiting Ukraine’s military, abandoning its bid to join NATO, establishing a demilitarized zone in the strategically and industrially important Donbas region, ceding certain Russian-controlled areas to Moscow, and providing NATO-like security guarantees to Ukraine—have shown progress but no tangible results.

Ukraine has so far declared that it is willing to withdraw its forces from the frontlines, provided Russia reciprocates, in order to establish a demilitarized zone and abandon NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees.