OMM Redaksiyası
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday accused Russia of refusing to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, while reaffirming Germany’s and Europe’s commitment to supporting Kyiv.
The war poses a “threat” to security across Europe, Merz said at a joint news conference in Münster with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, according to German outlet Stern.
Merz says diplomatic efforts continue
“We are therefore striving for a diplomatic solution, even though Moscow has so far refused to come to the negotiating table,” Merz said.
Germany and other European countries would continue to support Ukraine “with all their strength,” he added. NATO allies and EU member states are also working “under high pressure” to ensure they can credibly deter Russia, Merz said.
German-Dutch Corps supports NATO’s eastern flank
Merz cited the German-Dutch Corps as an example of European and NATO efforts to strengthen security on the alliance’s eastern flank. Since July, the corps has been responsible for securing NATO’s eastern flank in Estonia and Latvia, a role Merz described as an “enormously important contribution to security in Europe.”
Jetten said the German-Dutch Corps was standing “side by side” with Latvian and Estonian forces to defend their 700-kilometre (435-mile) border with Russia.
“Russia poses a rapidly growing threat to the NATO alliance,” Jetten said.
