BERLIN — As reports circulate of intensifying back-channel communications between Washington and Moscow regarding the future of Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has drawn a sharp red line, declaring that Europe will not accept being sidelined in decisions critical to its own security architecture.
In a fiery address to the Bundestag on Wednesday, the German leader issued a stern rebuke to the concept of "Great Power" politics, where the fate of nations is decided behind closed doors by the U.S. and Russia.
"Nothing About Europe Without Europe"
Chancellor Merz acknowledged the collective European desire for a swift end to the war but emphasized that haste cannot come at the expense of sovereignty. He warned that any accord stitched together without the direct consent of Kyiv and the European Union would result in a "fragile and artificial security structure" doomed to collapse.
"In this decisive moment for Ukraine, for Europe, and for the Trans-Atlantic alliance, I want to emphasize: European issues can only be decided by Europe," Merz asserted, prompting applause from lawmakers.
He explicitly rejected the notion that the European Union could be treated as a "strategic chess piece" in a broader geopolitical game between the White House and the Kremlin. The EU, he reminded allies, is a sovereign entity with its own distinct values and security interests that cannot be traded away.
The Geneva Breakthrough: A Revised Peace Plan
The Chancellor’s speech also shed light on high-stakes diplomacy occurring behind the scenes. He publicly welcomed recent modifications to the "28-Point Peace Plan" proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Following tense meetings between American, Ukrainian, and European delegations in Geneva last weekend, Merz noted that several provisions initially viewed as overly favorable to Russia had been "corrected."
The Shift: The revised plan reportedly moves away from pressuring Ukraine into territorial concessions and focuses more on balanced security guarantees.
The German Stance: Berlin maintains that the fastest path to peace is not squeezing Kyiv, but forcing Russia to respect international law and withdraw its troops.
Funding the Resistance
Moving beyond rhetoric, Merz reaffirmed Germany's material commitment to the war effort. He doubled down on the European plan to utilize the profits from frozen Russian Central Bank assets—the majority of which are held in Belgium—to underwrite a massive €140 billion loan for Ukraine.
"We will support the people of Ukraine for as long as necessary," Merz declared, signaling to Vladimir Putin that Western financial fatigue is not an option the Kremlin can bank on.
The Bottom Line
Chancellor Merz’s intervention marks a significant assertion of German leadership within the NATO alliance. By demanding a seat at the table, Berlin is signaling to the Trump administration that while the U.S. remains a crucial ally, the era of Europe passively accepting American dictates on its own continent is over.