Merkel's Party Leader Warns Against US-Russia Only Ukraine Peace Deal

Germany's opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, has warned that Europe must not become a "pawn" in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He stated that any peace plan negotiated solely by the United States and Russia would be unacceptable. Merz, who leads the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), argued that such a deal made without Ukraine and Europe's consent cannot create a lasting peace. He emphasized that Europe is a central party to the conflict and its security interests are directly at stake. The comments highlight European concerns about being sidelined in major diplomatic talks. They underscore the demand for Ukraine's full participation in any peace process to ensure a stable and secure outcome for the continent.