Merz: Europe Must Have a Seat at the Table in Ukraine Peace Talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that Europe must have a seat at the table in peace talks over the war in Ukraine, Politico Europe reports. The message matters because decisions on ending the war would directly affect European security, and Berlin is signalling that European governments should not be left outside the negotiations.

Pressure at home

Politico describes Merz as a weakened leader. He is seeking to recover from humiliating losses to the far right in elections in eastern Germany, while the prospect of an even bigger win for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) hangs over his chancellorship.

A firm line on Russia

In a closely watched speech on 1 October, the chancellor tried to reassure worried allies in Europe and Ukraine. He urged Germans to stay the course against Moscow, warning that otherwise Russia's war machine could "turn against us".

Security concerns

In early October, the head of Germany's foreign intelligence agency warned that the country risks being drawn into "violent conflict" with Russia, and said NATO countries must beware of Moscow's "little green men". On 6 October, a former German spy chief was arrested on suspicion of treason and espionage. Politico calls it one of the greatest potential intelligence breaches in post-Cold War German history, coming at a particularly sensitive time for the scandal-plagued foreign intelligence agency.