LOS ANGELES (OC).–Speaking to German public broadaster ZDF Sunday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz exposed behind the scenes in the EU with the Ukraine War. Since Zelensky used the EU as a shield against peace talks with President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin something was going on that couldn’t be explained until now. Merz revealed that the EU is genuinely worried about its own security with Putin’s war in Ukraine. EU members, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer worry that if they don’t beat the Russian Federation into submission in Ukraine, Putin will pick his next targets in the EU. Where Merz, Macron and Starmer get their facts is anyone’s guess. Putin has show no interest in taking on NATO, knowing the Article 5 requires if one country is attacked, all countries must respond.
Merz said he “harbors no illusions,” when asked by public broadcaster ZDF if a ceasefire was still possible in 2025. When attending a White House meeting with other EU leaders Aug. 18, Merz said he was still holding out for an eventual ceasefire. That was after Trump explained the he and Putin concluded that a ceasefire was only temporary and they preferred to work on a permanent peace settlement. Why Merz held out hope for a ceasefire in the meeting is anyone’s guess. Now it turns out Merz reveals that the EU decided with Zelensky he must hold the line in Ukraine and keep fighting. Merz statement essentially means the the EU and Zelensky have killed the peace process something that would have required negotiation-and-compromise on both sides. Merz said supporting Ukraine to defend itself against Russia was an “absolute priority,” admitting that peace is dead.
Merz statement that Ukraine must be made whole again, meaning that it must get all of its sovereign land back opens up a can of worms for the EU. Brussels had mixed feelings about funding the Ukraine War, essentially taking over from the U.S. when Trump decided he would no longer continue the Biden proxy war policy. Former President Joe Biden’s proxy war policy wrecked decades of diplomacy, détente, arms control and global cooperation with the Russian Federation. When Trump took office, the U.S. and Russia were mortal enemies, with Putin viewing the U.S. as his main rival in Ukraine. Putin considered the U.S. under Biden a mortal threat to the Russian Federation. But in the eight months since Trump’s inauguration, he’s restored normal diplomatic relations. Trump wants no part of defending Ukraine in any post-war scenario because it would pit the U.S. and Russia against each other.
Trump sent his peace envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Putin five times in the last few months to determine precisely what it would take to end the war. Putin put out his own memorandum on the Ukraine War, talking about what areas he would retain in any peace settlement. Zelensky doesn’t want to give Putin any sovereign land. EU Council President Ursula von der Leyen has been quoted saying that Putin must give back all sovereign territory seized in three-and-a-half years of war. So, if there’s a consistent theme from the EU is involves funding the Ukraine War indefinitely unless Putin agrees to leave his fortified positions seized over three years of war. Von der Leyen and Merz, both Germans, have the same attitude toward the Ukraine War that they cannot lose to Russia. Where’s the evidence that giving Ukraine more cash-and-arms can work?
Merz explained to ZDF that the war cannot end it Ukraine is forced into making territorial concessions. Merz and the EU see the war with the Kremlin as preventing the next potential war with Russia over what was once sovereign Ukrainian territory. If you follow Merz’s logic, Putin must admit to losing the war. How’s that suppose to happen when he’s won the war over the last three-and-a-half years? “We are trying to end it as quickly as possible. But certainly not at the price of Ukraine’s capitulation. You could end the war tomorrow if Ukraine surrendered and lost its independence,” Merz said. Trump wasn’t talking about Ukraine losing its independence but recognizing they’ve been at war with the Kremlin losing more sovereign territory daily. Trump advised Zelensky to cut his losses, end the war and start the long, costly processs of rebuilding the country.
Merz revealed the behind the scenes views of the EU that they’re fighting their own war with the Russian Federation. EU lcaders think that if they don’t hold the line in Ukraine, Putin would take over other EU countries in the future. Where they get that idea is anyone’s guess. That was certainly Zelensky’s propaganda message that Ukraine holds the line on protection European democracy. “The the next country would be at risk the day after tomorrow. And the day after that., if would be us. Tha is no an option,” Merz said, showing why the EU has fought Trump’s peace efforts in Ukraine. EU officials have made up a false narrative that Putin wants more European territory. Merz and the EU have no facts accusing Putin to threatening to seize more EU territory. So, now we know what’s really happening with Ukraine. EU consider itself at war with the Kremlin.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
