Press statement by Federal Chancellor Merz at the G20 meeting
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz made it clear at the G20 meeting in Johannesburg that there can only be an end to the war in Ukraine with the agreement of Ukraine itself and the European countries. The Federal Chancellor also formulated a demand to Russia.
1 min reading time
- Transcript of press conference
- Saturday, 22 November 2025
At the G20 meeting in South Africa, Federal Chancellor Merz called on Russia to end its war of aggression against Ukraine.
Photo: Federal Government / Jesco Denzel
“Wars cannot be ended by major powers going over the heads of the countries that are affected”: With these words, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised in a statement at the G20 summit in Johannesburg that there could only be an end to the war in Ukraine with the agreement of Ukraine itself and the Europeans. Because there is a war on the European continent. And if Ukraine were to lose the war or possibly collapse, “then that will have an impact on European politics as a whole, and on the entire European continent”.
Germany and Europe are intensively involved in the current talks. There is a chance for peace, he said, but a good result is still a long way off at the moment.
Read the transcript of the statement here (in German only):