German Chancellor Explains Under What Conditions The War In Ukraine Will End

• 13.02.2026, 17:53

Negotiations aren't working?

Russia is most likely not in the mood for serious peace talks with Ukraine. Therefore, the aggressor needs to be "finished".

This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during the Munich Security Conference, RBC-Ukraine with reference to The Guardian.

Merz, commenting on the talks with Russia, recalled how "the prime minister from the EU" (referring to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban) went to Moscow for peace talks without a mandate and achieved nothing. Within a week, Ukraine was already subjected to one of Russia's heaviest attacks on civilian infrastructure.

"So if it makes sense to talk, we are ready to talk. But as you can see from the American side, Russia is not ready for serious negotiations yet," the chancellor clarified.

He noted that the war in Ukraine "will only end when Russia is at least economically, and possibly militarily, exhausted." In his view, that moment is already approaching.

"Russia must give up this terrible war against Ukraine, and we must do everything necessary to bring them to the point where they see no further advantages for themselves in continuing this terrible war," Merz said.