• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz predicts a prolonged Ukraine war.
• He cites Russia's reluctance to negotiate as a key factor.
• Merz emphasizes the importance of not conceding to Russian demands.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has cautioned that Europeans should brace for a prolonged war in Ukraine, citing Russia’s unwillingness to negotiate peacefully. Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, he pointed out that hopes for a potential diplomatic reset have faded, particularly with President Putin setting unacceptable preconditions for talks with Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy. Merz emphasized, “This war may last for many more months," urging close coordination among European allies and the United States to increase pressure on Russia to engage diplomatically with Ukraine according to aa.

In a recent interview, Merz reiterated his expectation that the conflict would not end soon, noting that wars typically conclude either with military defeat or economic exhaustion — conditions he believes are not yet present for either Kyiv or Moscow. He expressed a critical view of any negotiations that might lead to Ukraine's capitulation and stressed that Russia could subsequently target other nations, stating, “And then the day after tomorrow it will be us" according to Reuters and SCMP.

Merz and Macron have pushed for the U.S. to impose tougher sanctions on Russia, describing the situation as Russia blocking peace talks while continuing military operations. Despite diplomatic efforts, Merz has rejected the idea of deploying German troops to Ukraine under any peace deal, indicative of Germany's sensitive stance post-World War II. Concurrently, the Kremlin has criticized European nations for hindering peace efforts, maintaining a firm stance on continuing their operations in Ukraine until they perceive willingness from Kyiv for negotiations according to Reuters and SCMP.