German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Thursday that efforts to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine remain in their early stages and could take months, despite mounting diplomatic momentum in recent weeks.
“We are under no illusions. There is no quick fix,” Merz told a press conference in Vilnius, where he attended the inauguration of Germany’s new permanent brigade in Lithuania.
“This is a process that has only just begun and may take many more weeks, perhaps even months,” Merz said.
While confirming Germany’s continued military support for Ukraine, Merz said his government was actively pushing for a diplomatic solution. “We are really not missing any conceivable opportunity to reach a diplomatic solution here,” he said. “But we know we cannot achieve it in a short space of time.”
His remarks come after the latest round of indirect talks between Kyiv and Moscow — brokered with Turkish involvement — produced limited progress, including a recent prisoner exchange.
Ukrainian officials have pushed for an immediate truce, while Russia has laid down conditions that Kyiv has rejected as unacceptable.
Merz also pointed to the importance of Western unity, saying that coordination with EU partners and outreach to U.S. lawmakers would remain central to the German strategy.
“It is also in America’s interest that we continue to move forward together,” he said, adding that his conversations with members of the U.S. Congress had shown broad support for continued transatlantic alignment.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week, has pushed allies to back a negotiated settlement and has signaled frustration with what he sees as foot-dragging.
Hans von der Burchard contributed to this report.
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