Press conference with Federal Chancellor Merz and the Greek Prime Minister
Ukraine has agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Putin’s agreement to it is overdue. Chancellor Merz emphasised this position during Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ visit to Berlin. The topic of migration was also on the agenda.
- Transcript of press conference
- Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz received a European head of government in the Federal Chancellery for the first time: Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Photo: Federal Government/Steffen Kugler
“We want to work closely together to solve very specific problems,” said Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The discussion at the Federal Chancellery centred on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and ways to achieve peace. The two heads of government also discussed the migration problem in Europe as well as European security and defence.
With regard to the Russian war against Ukraine, the Federal Chancellor stressed: “This war must stop.” He emphasised: “None of us is prepared to accept the alteration of borders within Europe by military force.” The German government, Merz stated, will continue to provide Ukraine with resolute support. It welcomed the fact that President Zelensky personally declared his willingness to negotiate peace with President Putin in Turkey if weapons were laid down simultaneously. “Now it is up to Putin to accept this offer to negotiate,” said Merz.
The most important points of the statement in brief:
- Paths to peace for Ukraine: Ukraine has agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. All involved were now waiting for Putin to agree to it, said Merz. If there was no real progress this week, Merz explained, they would work together at the European level to “significantly heighten sanctions”. The Chancellor said that a 17th EU sanctions package had already been formulated. Additional areas, such as the energy and financial sectors, would also be scrutinised.
- Combating irregular migration: Greece and Germany were in agreement that the new, more restrictive European asylum rules must be implemented quickly. The leaders confirmed their shared commitment to the problem of migration to Europe. Merz emphasized the shared responsibility for Europe’s external borders. With regard to secondary migration, he also made his expectations of the Greek government clear: “Secondary migration from Greece to Germany must decrease. Returns must increase.”
- Strengthening security and defence: Peace and security in Europe could not be taken for granted, Merz noted. Germany and Greece are therefore working intensively on deepening their cooperation on defence.