Germany's Merz expects Ukraine war to last a long time

Chancellor Merz Anticipates Prolonged Ukraine Conflict Ahead

BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday he was braced for the Ukraine war to last a long time given that wars usually end in military defeat or economic exhaustion, scenarios he does not see on the horizon for either Kyiv or Moscow.

Merz's comments come a day before the expiry of a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine with a view to paving the way for peace talks. Trump has threatened "consequences" if the meeting does not take place.

Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have said the fault lies with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and have urged the U.S. to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow.

"I am preparing myself inwardly for this war to last a long time," Merz said in an interview with public broadcaster ZDF.

Efforts are being made through intensive diplomatic initiatives to end the war as quickly as possible, but this cannot be "at the price of Ukraine's capitulation" because Russia would then simply target another country, he said.

"And then the day after tomorrow it will be us," Merz added. "That is not an option."

He refused to be drawn in the interview on the issue of a possible deployment of German troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees in the event of a peace deal.

Britain and France are spearheading a proposal for a "reassurance force" to deter potential future Russian aggression within that context, but the prospect of Germany joining them has sparked unease in a country scarred by its Nazi past.

The Kremlin said on Sunday that European powers were hindering Trump's peace efforts, and that Russia would continue its operation in Ukraine until Moscow saw real signs that Kyiv was ready for peace.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Sarah Marsh;Editing by Helen Popper)