OMM Newsroom
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday defended Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, saying they impair Moscow’s ability to wage war.
Speaking to reporters after an EU summit in Brussels, Merz said he saw no willingness from Russia, including President Vladimir Putin, to end the conflict. He said Moscow was instead trying to intensify the fighting ahead of winter.
“Ukraine’s entire energy infrastructure is being massively damaged, and its transmission networks are coming under attack,” Merz said. “Every effort is being made to make the winter as difficult as possible for the country.”
Against that backdrop, Merz said it was “entirely right, reasonable and understandable” for Ukraine to strike targets in Russia that hinder the war effort of the Russian government and army. He said this applied to communications and energy supplies.
Merz argued that these were the only ways Ukraine could make Russia understand that it was prepared to defend itself seriously.
The chancellor reiterated that Germany and Europe would continue to support Ukraine. “But we are not doing it to prolong the war; we are doing it to bring Russia to the negotiating table,” he said.
