Comment · Stand 15 October 2026. In his declaration of 14 October, Friedrich Merz defended further support for Ukraine, which establishes it with the security of Europe and with the responsibility to protect a peace order, within which borders are not displaced by violence.
Merz’ line is not simply a call for more weapons. When he visited Kyjiw on 4 October, he announced a military support package of around one billion euros and around 350 million euros of winter and energy aid.
The decisive reason lies at the starting point of the war: Russia has attacked Ukraine. Ukraine has not outrageed Russia. If an attacker can hope to break the resistance of an outrageous country by destruction and exhaustion, violence will be rewarded.
Merz said in Kyjiw that peace must be negotiated and that Ukraine or Europe should not be dictated. In his telephone conversation with President Wolodymyr Selenskyj on 12 October, he also stated that Russia must agree to a ceasefire for the entire energy infrastructure.
Germany's own interest also speaks for this policy. The European security system becomes more uncertain if a state can achieve lasting gains with military force.