Germany's Merz calls for sustained pressure on Russia ahead of war anniversary

Описание: (23 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Berlin, Germany - 23 February 2026
1. Various of "Cafe Kyjiv" event
2. Merz entering stage
3. SOUNDBITE (German) Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor:
"This war will only end when Russia no longer sees any sense in continuing it; when Russia can no longer expect more territorial gains; when Russia’s costs for this madness have simply become too high."
4. Various of Merz touring event
5. SOUNDBITE (German) Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor:
"So we must maintain pressure on Russia; we must even increase it. We must dry up Moscow’s war financing. The European Union’s 20th sanctions package I briefly mentioned will be agreed tomorrow, on the fourth anniversary of this war – this is precisely the aim we have with this.”
6. Various of Merz touring event
7. SOUNDBITE (German) Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor:
"I thus appeal again to our European partners – do not let up in your support, in our common support, for Ukraine. We are standing at a crossroads that could decide on the well-being of our whole continent.”
8. Various of Merz receiving a traditional Ukrainian garment embroidered with Ukrainian and German symbols
9. Merz leaving
STORYLINE:
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for continued pressure on Russia ahead of the fourth anniversary Tuesday of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine — a war that has left perhaps 1.8 million dead, wounded or missing.

"This war will only end when Russia no longer sees any sense in continuing it; when Russia can no longer expect more territorial gains; when Russia’s costs for this madness have simply become too high," Merz said in a speech at "Cafe Kyiv", an annual Berlin event bringing together political and civil society leaders to discuss Ukraine, European security and support for the country.

"We must dry up Moscow’s war financing," Mertz added.

The German chancellor appealed to European partners to "not let up in your support, in our common support, for Ukraine. We are standing at a crossroads that could decide on the well-being of our whole continent.”

Merz again disputed the idea that Russia is winning, describing that as part of its propaganda.

The German chancellor asserted that the European Union’s 20th sanctions package will be agreed on Tuesday, even as Hungary said it would block the sanctions and a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine after disruptions to a major pipeline.

The EU needs unanimous approval for sanctions, so one holdout can stop the deal.

===========================================================

Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected].

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...