Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 29, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleGermany's Merz states Europe is 'no longer at peace' with Russia, emphasizing EU's support for Ukraine and potential economic impacts on Russia.
DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Europe "is not at war ... but no longer at peace" with Russia.
"Let me put it in a sentence that may be a little shocking at first glance ... we are not at war, but we are no longer at peace either," Merz said at a media event in Duesseldorf.
Russia's war is "a war against our democracy and a war against our freedom," Merz said, adding that Moscow's intention was to undermine unity in the bloc.
He also referred to his recent endorsement of an EU plan to unlock frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's war effort, saying the move could provide military support for Ukraine for three to five years.
Merz said within that time period it could become economically untenable for Russia to continue its war on Ukraine.
(Reporting by Matthias Inverardi, Writing by Friederike Heine; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Friedrich Merz stated that Europe is 'not at war ... but no longer at peace' with Russia, highlighting the ongoing tensions.
Merz described Russia's war as 'a war against our democracy and a war against our freedom,' indicating its broader implications.
Merz endorsed an EU plan to unlock frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's war effort, suggesting it could provide military support.
Merz mentioned that within three to five years, it could become economically untenable for Russia to continue its war on Ukraine.
Merz implied that Moscow's intention is to undermine unity in the European bloc, which is a critical concern for European leaders.
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