Merz warns of Russian division and emphasizes NATO's role in peace

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has warned against Russia's attempts to drive a wedge into German society by supporting Ukraine. "In Germany we will not allow ourselves to be divided," said Merz at the awarding of the Westphalian Peace Prize to NATO in Münster. This applies to “hybrid attacks,” “agitation on social media controlled by Moscow bots,” and also to “slogans from the AfD and its Russian backers.”

In the debate about help for Ukraine against Russia's war of aggression, there is also the accusation that this "is at the expense of prosperity in our own country," said Merz. But supporting Ukraine is "not an end in itself": "We provide it above all else to protect the freedom and security of the people in our country."

If it is not possible to "stop Moscow, then sooner or later the Russian war machine will turn against us, against NATO itself," warned Merz. “We cannot close our eyes to this danger.” Because then war would come back three generations after 1945: “Would the Baltics then become a battlefield for drone combat like the Donbas today?” asked Merz. »Which major European cities would be targeted by the ballistic missiles that Russia is firing at the people of Kyiv and Kharkiv today? In the end, would we Germans also have to feel the horror of war firsthand again?"

“Transatlantic responsibility”

“The most urgent European and transatlantic responsibility” is “to do everything in our power to prevent things from getting to that point,” said Merz. NATO plays a central role in bringing Russia into negotiations from a position of strength. »Our support for Ukraine is not an end in itself. Above all else, we do it to protect the freedom and security of the people in our country. Freedom and security are conditions for our prosperity," said the Chancellor.

They want “stable, predictable relations with Russia at the right time,” said Merz. However, Russia is currently pursuing a revisionist, imperial expansion. Above all, Russia respects strength. The country will be more likely to negotiate if the West meets it with unity. There can be no peace over the heads of the Ukrainians. »We don't want to humiliate the Russian people and we don't want to cause the Russian state to falter. But Russia must end the war and refrain from hybrid attacks on Europe," said the Chancellor.

Prevent military conflict with Russia

Unity towards Moscow has proven successful. »NATO is the best example. The unity and strength of the alliance have made a decisive contribution to preventing a military conflict with Russia since 1949.

The International Peace of Westphalia Prize is awarded every two years by the Economic Society for Westphalia and Lippe. According to the organizers, the award is intended to honor NATO's "continuous peace work." In times of global uncertainty, the institution creates reliability, promotes partnership and enables peace through stability. The “socioMovens” foundation, based in Dortmund, was honored with the Youth Prize for its projects with young people in Central and Eastern Europe.