German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz has said that US President Donald Trump is the “key person” to bring about an end to the war in Ukraine.
He said this during a meeting with the US President in the Oval Office.
It was the first time the two are meeting in-person and comes amid a series of high-stakes International issues.
Merz thanked Trump for the invite, stating that he was in the White House first in 1982, and he is happy to be back.
He referenced Trump’s family links with Germany and gifted Trump a fascimile of the birth certificate of Trump’s German grandfather, Friedrich Trump.
“We both agree on this war and how terrible this war is going on, and we are both looking for ways to stop it very soon. And I told the President … he is the key person in the world who can really do that now by putting pressure on Russia.”
Friedrich Merz
The German leader reiterated his country’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine, adding that the horrific images from the battlefield are caused by “Russian weapons against Ukraine.”
“Ukraine is only targeting military targets, not civilians, not energy infrastructure. So this is the difference, and that’s the reason why we are trying to do more on Russia.”
Friedrich Merz
Trump declined to offer specifics on sanctions on Russia during a meeting with German Chancellor Merz in the Oval Office.“It’s in my brain, the deadline, when I see the moment where it’s not going to stop,” Trump said, and then looked on to Merz, saying, “I’m sure you’re going to do the same thing.” Trump then added, “we’ll be very, very, very tough,” when pressed about sanctions on Russia.
He suggested that it could be on both countries, saying, “You know, it takes two to tango.”
Without directly addressing whether he would impose Russian sanctions, the US President described a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he said he gave an analogy likening the war to a playground fight.
“Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy. They hate each other, and they’re fighting in a park, and you try and pull them apart. They don’t want to be pulled, sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.
“And I gave that analogy to Putin yesterday, I said, President, maybe you’re going to have to keep fighting and suffering a lot, because both sides are suffering before you pull them apart, before they’re able to be pulled apart.”
Donald Trump
Trump Strikes Positive Tone On Potential Trade Deal With EU
Meanwhile, Trump struck a positive tone on a potential trade deal with the European Union during a meeting at the White House with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saying, “We’ll have a good trade deal.”
He said to Merz, “I guess that will be mostly determined by the European Union, but you’re a very big part of that, so you’ll be involved.”
Trump’s major tariffs on the EU, including a threatened 50% tariff, have been delayed until July 9. Germany is still impacted by tariffs including Trump’s 25% tariff on autos, which is in effect.
Trump said that “hopefully” there will be a trade deal, or the United States will “do the tariffs.” “I mean, I’m okay with the tariffs, or we make a deal with the trade, and I guess that’s what we’re discussing,” he said.
Trump’s optimistic remarks came hours after he separately spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on a phone call.
Investors and economists have been on edge about the impact of Trump’s trade war.
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