Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, mentioned Ukraine mustn’t be a part of NATO or the European Union whereas it stays at struggle with Russia. In an interview with Handelsblatt printed on April 12, Merz emphasised that Ukraine’s wartime standing makes accession unattainable at this stage.

"Ukraine is a really giant European nation, however it’s a European nation that’s at struggle," Merz mentioned. "A rustic that’s at struggle can’t change into a member of NATO or the European Union."

He reaffirmed that Ukraine’s future lies inside each alliances however insisted that hostilities should first finish. "The promise of becoming a member of the European Union stays legitimate, as does the attitude of becoming a member of NATO," Merz mentioned. "However for each of those to occur, the struggle should finish first."

Merz made his remarks shortly after unveiling what he referred to as a "sturdy plan" to steer Germany ahead, presenting his imaginative and prescient for a brand new coalition authorities on April 9. Germany has change into Ukraine’s second largest army donor after the U.S., making it Kyiv’s main supporter on the European continent.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) bloc, led by Merz, gained essentially the most seats in February’s Bundestag election. The Social Democratic Celebration (SPD) completed third and can function a coalition companion within the new authorities.

Collectively, the CDU/CSU and SPD maintain a majority in parliament, permitting them to kind a authorities with out involving different events. The Greens, the far-right Different for Germany (AfD), and the Left will stay in opposition.

The brand new cupboard is anticipated to keep up help for Ukraine and enhance protection spending, with additional coverage priorities to be outlined within the coalition settlement.

On March 14, a German parliamentary coalition agreed to allocate 3 billion euros (roughly $3.2 billion) in new army support to Ukraine.

Merz’s bold plans to spice up Germany’s protection spending are a part of a broader shift in Europe’s safety technique. The continent is rearming and taking over a bigger position in supporting Ukraine amid sudden modifications in U.S. international coverage beneath President Donald Trump.

Germany’s military rebirth is Europe’s best bet against PutinWhen Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he knew that he was upending Europe’s security order. But this was more of a tactical gambit than a calculated strategy, and he could not have predicted what would follow. Though U.S. President DonaldThe Kyiv IndependentShlomo Ben-Ami