Friedrich Merz

There were no territorial negotiations between Putin and Trump over the heads of Ukraine and the Europeans.

We want things to go in the right sequence: We want a ceasefire at the very beginning, and then a framework agreement must be drawn up.

We cannot accept territorial questions being discussed or even decided between Russia and America over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians.

The even harsher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, approved by the Israeli Cabinet last night, makes it increasingly difficult, in the German government’s view, to achieve these goals.

Israel must continue to comprehensively and sustainably address the humanitarian situation in Gaza

With the planned offensive, the Israeli government bears even greater responsibility than before for providing for their needs

Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas´ terror

The German government believes that the even tougher military action in the Gaza Strip decided upon by the Israeli cabinet last night makes it increasingly difficult to see how these goals can be achieved.

With the agreement in the EU-US negotiations on tariffs a trade conflict, which would have hit the export-oriented German economy hard, has been avoided.

We want to use this time now, the two and half weeks until August 1 to find a solution. I am really committed to this.

The Americans need them themselves in part, but they also have a great many of them.

If a criminal regime, with military violence, openly questions the existential right of an entire country...

It’s just rudimentary, this idea.

It is no exaggeration to call this summit historic.

If the WTO continues to be incapable of working, the EU has to come up with something else.

[I have] the greatest respect for the fact that the Israeli army had the courage to do this, that the Israeli state leadership had the courage to do this.

make the Bundeswehr 'Europe’s strongest army.'

In the long run, Mr. President, this was the liberation of my country from a Nazi dictator.

We know what we owe you… this is the reason why I'm saying that America is again in a very strong position to do something on this war and ending this war.

My government would lift all range restrictions on weapons it sends to Ukraine.

There will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself, even against military targets outside its own territory.

The massive air strikes, particularly on the city of Kyiv over the weekend, do not speak the language of peace, but rather the language of a war of aggression.

The actions of the Israeli military in Gaza can no longer be justified on the grounds of a fight against Hamas terrorism.

This means Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military targets in Russia.

Putin obviously sees offers of talks as a sign of weakness.