Future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke out against Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the European Union in an interview with Handelsblatt.
“Ukraine is a very big European country, but it is a European country that is at war,” Merz said.
According to him, a country that is at war cannot become a member of NATO or the European Union.
He emphasised that the promise to join the European Union is valid, as is the prospect of joining NATO.
“But for both to happen, the war must first end,” he explained his view.
On 9 April, conservative leader Friedrich Merz presented a “strong plan” for Germany to move forward together, announcing the formation of a coalition government.
The new government will govern the country for the next four years in partnership with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).
The CDU/CSU bloc won the Bundestag elections in February. The Social Democrats came in third place. Together, these two forces have a majority in the Bundestag and were able to avoid involving representatives of other forces in negotiations on a new cabinet. “The Greens will thus remain in opposition, as will the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany and the Left Party.
The new cabinet is expected to continue its policy of supporting Ukraine. Defence spending will also be increased. Other policy priorities of the future government will be outlined in a coalition agreement.