Brussels, May 9, (dpa/GNA) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday supported US President Donald Trump’s proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, as he visited Brussels for the first time since taking office earlier this week.
“Russia is now called upon to finally agree to a longer ceasefire, which must leave room for a genuine peace treaty,” Merz said after meeting European Council President Antonio Costa.
Merz also warned of further sanctions if Russia does not cooperate.
“If this does not happen, we will not hesitate, together with our European partners and the United States of America, to further increase the pressure of sanctions,” he said.
The newly elected chancellor spoke to Trump on the phone for the first time on Thursday evening, two days after taking office.
He said that several European states, including Germany, France, Poland and the United Kingdom, are willing to support Trump’s initiative with a joint declaration.
Trump on Thursday said “the US calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire” in a post on his Truth Social platform.
A three-day ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to last until Saturday night, coinciding with a major military parade in Moscow.
Both Ukraine and Russia have reported continuing attacks despite the supposed ceasefire.
Costa: Merz to place ‘Germany in the centre’
Merz is also holding talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Friday.
The trip to Brussels is his foreign visit as chancellor after travelling to Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday.
Merz has pledged that Germany’s “voice in Europe and in the world” would be heard again under his leadership.
As opposition leader, Merz had accused former chancellor Olaf Scholz of a passive approach to EU affairs and vowed to end Germany’s “silence in European policy.”
“A new leader means always new energy, new ideas,” said Costa after his meeting with Merz.
Germany has always been a reliable partner, helping “to strengthen the European Union, to bridge differences and to cement the unity among the 27” member states, said Costa.
“My expectation is, of course, that Friedrich Merz continues to put Germany in the centre of the European decision-making process.”
“I’m fully confident in this new energy, this new will to continue to build our European Union,” Costa said.
Merz has promised closer cooperation with France and Poland and a renewed push for European sovereignty in response to the foreign policy shift in the United States under Trump.
Merz defends migration policy
During his election campaign, Merz also promised a tougher stance on migration.
The new chancellor on Friday defended his government’s move to increase controls at borders with its neighbours amid criticism from Poland, Austria and Switzerland.
“We are now carrying out more intensive checks at the borders. We are carrying out checks in much the same way as during last year’s European Football Championships,” Merz told reporters in Brussels.
“We will also continue to turn people back, but this is all in line with European law and our European neighbours are also fully aware of this,” he added.
“Germany is not acting alone here. We are coordinating with our European neighbours,” he insisted.
The new German government, which took office on Tuesday, wants to tackle irregular migration by imposing additional controls and turning back asylum-seekers at its borders.
Critics say that such an approach might not be compatible with EU law.
“Migration is a common European challenge and it needs a common European solution,” said von der Leyen after her meeting with Merz, announcing additional funding for migration management in the EU.
Von der Leyen stressed that the bloc has already agreed on a far-reaching reform of its migration and asylum regulations but that many stricter rules are yet to come into effect, calling the current situation “a dilemma.”
She urged EU countries to implement the reforms as quickly as possible.
GNA
PDC