--- title: "Merz: Peace negotiations to end the war are impossible without Ukraine and Europe" description: "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated in Singapore that negotiations to end the war are impossible without the participation of Ukraine and Europe. He warned against a scenario where the conflict could be \"wrapped up\" without Kyiv and reaffirmed Berlin's course in supporting Ukraine." date: 2026-10-27T15:49:23.971Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/merz-negotiations-to-end-war-impossible-without-ukraine-europe tags: [germany, friedrich-merz, ukraine-war, europe, negotiations, putin, norway, finland] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Merz: Peace negotiations to end the war are impossible without Ukraine and Europe ![Friedrich Merz in a business suit against the background of German and European flags](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/27/merts-peregovory-ob-okonchaniyi-voyny-nemozhlivy-bez-ukrainy-i-evropy/merts-peregovory-ob-okonchaniyi-voyny-nemozhlivy-bez-ukrainy-i-evropy-1.webp) ## Key Points - Merz stated that negotiations to end the war are impossible without Ukraine and must include European countries. - The German Chancellor warned against a scenario where Russia, possibly China, and the US would end the war without Ukraine. - The statement followed a phone call between the leaders of Finland and Norway with Putin on October 27 and against the backdrop of upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking at the Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, outlined Berlin's position on diplomatic efforts surrounding the war in Ukraine. According to him, attempts by the United States and Russia to end the conflict will not lead to a sustainable solution unless Ukraine itself is at the negotiating table. Merz emphasized that any negotiations must also involve European countries because, as he formulated it, the war is being waged on European territory and affects the entire continent. ### “Depends on only one person” Assigning responsibility for the continuation of hostilities, the German Chancellor stated that the end of the war depends “on only one person” — referring to Vladimir Putin. At the same time, he regarded continued support for Ukraine not only as the defense of its territorial integrity but also as “the defense of the European political order.” According to Merz's assessment, until the Russian leader expresses a desire to stop the war, Germany and Europe will continue to support Kyiv. ### Negotiation format and the role of Nordic countries Merz warned against a scenario in which “Russia, possibly China, and the United States of America” would end the war without Ukraine's participation. According to him, the negotiating table must include Russia, Ukraine, the US, and European countries. The Chancellor stated that Germany and other European nations are trying to build a format for negotiations with the Russian government, while Norway and Finland, in his estimation, are playing “a very constructive role” in these efforts. ### Context: Telephone contacts with the Kremlin The statement came against the backdrop of a telephone conversation between the leaders of Finland and Norway with Vladimir Putin on October 27. Before this contact, they held consultations with Ukraine to convey its position regarding the upcoming peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commenting on the call, stated that the Finnish and Norwegian leaders clearly conveyed to the Russian leadership the need for real de-escalation steps concerning Ukraine's energy and infrastructure. ### Different assessments within Europe Europe holds varying views on negotiation initiatives: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reportedly reacted skeptically to the talks between the leaders of Norway and Finland with Putin. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, urged “not to allow the US to maintain a monopoly on conducting negotiations” to end the war, noting that Europeans need to determine their future framework of relations with Russia. According to Merz, Moscow's reaction to the recent contact between the German and Russian foreign ministers indicates a lack of readiness in the Kremlin for serious negotiations, which, in his view, only reinforces Berlin's course of continued support for Ukraine. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Мерц: переговоры об окончании войны невозможны без Украины и Европы](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/merts-peregovori-zakinchennya-viyni-nemozhlivi-1793114539.html) - Primary source: Merz's speech in Singapore, quotes about the participation of Ukraine and Europe, "one person," defense of the European order, the role of Norway and Finland; context of the call between the leaders of Finland/Norway and Putin on 27.10, Abu Dhabi, Zelenskyy's words, Denmark's skepticism. - [Переговоры об окончании войны в Украине: в Берлине сделали важное заявление](https://glavred.info/world/peregovory-ob-okonchanii-voyny-v-ukraine-v-berline-sdelali-vazhnoe-zayavlenie-10800254.html) - Merz's assessment of Moscow's reaction to the contact between Wadephul and Lavrov; Wadephul's statement at PACE on the inadmissibility of a "US monopoly" and the need to determine the format of relations with Russia. - [В МИД Германии анонсировали переговоры об окончании войны в Украине](https://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/politics/_v-mid-germanii-anonsirovali-peregovory-ob-okonchanii-vojny-v-ukraine/1259390) - Confirmation of the announcement of negotiations to end the war as part of Wadephul's statement at PACE. ## FAQ ### Where and by whom was the statement made regarding the necessity of Ukraine's participation in negotiations? The statement was made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a speech at the Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. ### What scenario did Merz call unacceptable? He warned against a scenario in which "Russia, possibly China, and the United States of America" would end the war without Ukraine's participation. ### What role, according to Merz, do Norway and Finland play? Merz called their role in efforts to build a negotiation format with the Russian government "very constructive." ### What happened on October 27 regarding the negotiations? The leaders of Finland and Norway called Vladimir Putin after previously consulting with Ukraine on its position regarding the upcoming peace talks in Abu Dhabi.