German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Russia’s war in Ukraine could continue “for many more months,” despite U.S.-led efforts to bring it to an end, AFP reported.

Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Toulon, Merz said there were no “illusions” about the possibility of a quick resolution to the conflict and pledged: “We will not abandon Ukraine.”

He added that he was not surprised by the Kremlin’s continued stalling regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to arrange direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

“This is part of the Russian president’s strategy,” Merz said. “Earlier this week, it became clear to me that President Putin does not want a meeting with Zelensky and is setting conditions that are completely unacceptable.”

Merz emphasized that maintaining unity among Ukraine’s allies in the so-called “coalition of the willing” is “one of our most urgent tasks.” | BGNES