Mertz: It is expected that the war in Ukraine will last for a long time

German Chancellor Olaf Merz said on Sunday (August 31) that given that wars usually end in military defeat or economic exhaustion and that he believes neither Kiev nor Moscow has shown such signs at present, he is prepared for the war in Ukraine to continue for a long time.

Reuters reported that the day before Mertz made the above remarks, US President Trump set a deadline for a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine. Trump threatened that if the meeting failed to take place, both sides would "bear the consequences".

Mertz and French President Macron said that the responsibility lies with Russian President Putin and urged the United States to impose harsher sanctions on Moscow.

Mertz said in an interview with the German public broadcaster ZDF: "I have mentally prepared myself that this war will last for a long time."

He said that Russia is making intensive diplomatic efforts to end the war as soon as possible, but this cannot be "at the cost of Ukraine's surrender", because then Russia would point the finger at another country.

It will be our turn the day after tomorrow. That's impossible.

In the interview, he refused to disclose whether the security guarantee for Ukraine stipulated in the peace agreement included Germany's deployment of troops to Ukraine.

France and the United Kingdom are formulating plans to establish a "reassurances force", which will rely on Western air power and, with the support of the United States, implement a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine and prevent potential Russian aggression.

The Kremlin said on Sunday that European powers are hindering Trump's efforts for peace. Russia will continue to act in Ukraine until Moscow sees signs that Kyiv is truly ready for peace.