Merz from Washington on Ukraine War: “Very Complicated, I’m Not Optimistic Anything Will Change Overnight” During his first personal meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz tried to position himself as a key figure in ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. In an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), Merz shared insights from his discussion with Trump and expressed cautious optimism, while recognizing the complexities ahead.“We had an intensive talk about several issues. One of them was the horrific war Russia is waging in Ukraine. I argued that we have a duty to increase pressure on Russia to end this war,” said Merz. “However, I understand how complicated this issue is. Even here in the U.S., the debate in the Senate is very strong. I’m hopeful, but not so optimistic that something will change overnight on Ukrainian soil.”
Commenting on Trump’s stance, Merz acknowledged that Trump appears increasingly frustrated: “He sees that his recent initiatives haven’t worked and that President Putin seems unwilling to stop the war — even after a very long phone call they had yesterday.” “We’re now discussing what can be done jointly — the EU, Germany, and the U.S. — to exert greater pressure. While I don’t have a definitive answer today, I reminded him that historically, the U.S. has always played a crucial global role in such moments.” Merz drew a historical parallel: “Tomorrow is June 6th — D-Day — when Americans landed in Europe in 1944 to end the war. This might be a similar moment, not with military force, but through political and economic pressure on Russia.”
Trade and tariffs were also central to the meeting. Trump reiterated his preference for tariffs, even though, as Merz pointed out, few share that view. “We’re working under tight deadlines, hoping to reach an agreement by early July, which is the U.S. government’s target,” Merz explained. “High tariffs are not in our interest. I’ll be coordinating with EU colleagues to find a workable solution and will try to convince the U.S. government — especially the President — to agree on a reasonable deal.”
Asked how he would measure whether the meeting made a real impact, Merz said: “Through follow-up meetings, regular calls, concessions on both sides, and a willingness to reach an agreement. I believe President Trump is genuinely open to making a trade deal. If we succeed in the coming weeks, we’ll have achieved more than previous governments on both sides of the Atlantic. This is a major opportunity.”
Interestingly, Merz gifted Trump a copy of his grandfather Friedrich Trump’s birth certificate — both men share the same first name. “No, this isn’t the start of a friendship,” Merz smiled. “But it is the beginning of close cooperation. We met today for the first time as leaders, and I hope we can work openly and constructively as colleagues across the Atlantic.”
