Berlin:German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday reiterated the importance of ongoing support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He emphasized the commitment not to abandon Ukraine during a congress of the youth organization of his Christian Democratic Union and its sister party, the Christian Social Union.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Merz criticized the opposition parties, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the far-left The Left, for minimizing the severity of the situation with Russia. He highlighted that Russia's actions challenge not only Ukraine's territorial integrity but also undermine democratic values and the way of life in Western countries.

Germany has been a significant military ally to Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022, supplying advanced weapons, ammunition, financial aid, and participating in Western sanctions against Russia. Merz's comments followed warnings from Germany's foreign intelligence service about the increasing risk of a violent conflict with Russia, noting that Moscow now views Berlin as a primary adversary.