Merz Frustrated With Ukraine Talks as Europe Seeks Sanctions

Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Emmanuel Macron with european leaders at the Coalition of the Willing Summit, in Paris, on Sept. 4.Photographer: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

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By Samy Adghirni and Laura Malsch

September 5, 2025 at 7:21 AM UTC

Updated on

September 5, 2025 at 11:57 AM UTC

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced exasperation that Europe lacks the clout to force Russia to end its war in Ukraine after the US continued to stall on providing security guarantees or agree on sanctions.

“We are currently unable to exert sufficient pressure on Putin to end this war,” Merz said on Friday in an interview for his conservative party’s YouTube channel. “We depend on American help.” At the same time, he said, countries like China, India and Brazil are entering into new partnerships with Russia.