
Putin 'has been testing the limits for long time,' warns German Chancellor Merz
Sep 18, 2025
Berlin [Germany], September 18: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday urged Europe not to allow Russia to determine the terms of a peace deal in Ukraine, warning that doing so would only embolden President Vladimir Putin "to search for his next target."
"Putin has been testing the limits for a long time," Merz said in parliament as he was addressing lawmakers as part of budget week.
"He sabotages, he spies, he murders, he tries to unsettle people." Merz said this had been evident in Poland last week, when Russian drones violated the country's airspace and were shot down above its territory for the first time.
Putin was also looking to destabilize German society, the chancellor warned.
"We will not allow that to happen," Merz stressed, adding that Germany was strengthening its resilience and defence capabilities for that very reason.
Source: Qatar Tribune