German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday that any attempt by the United States and Russia to end the war in Ukraine can never succeed without Ukraine itself and European countries at the table. Speaking in Singapore, he warned against a settlement imposed by Russia, China and the United States, and framed continued European support for Kyiv as a defense of the continent’s political order, saying support would continue as long as Russia’s president does not want to end the war. Merz said Germany and other European countries are working to establish a negotiating format with Moscow, with Norway and Finland playing what he called a constructive role. The same day, the leaders of Finland and Norway broke with years of Western European practice by calling Russia’s president directly to urge an end to the war.

Full report: Germany’s Merz: Russia, US cannot settle Ukraine war without Kyiv, Europe.