German Chancellor: ‘Putin’s plans don’t end with Ukraine - this is just beginning’

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s imperial ambitions go far beyond Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday, warning that Moscow’s aggression marks only the beginning of wider plans.

“Everything indicates that Putin’s imperialist goals will not end in Ukraine – this is just the beginning,” Merz stated.

The German Chancellor urged European allies to reassess their strategic interests and pursue new global partnerships, stressing that relations with the United States are also undergoing change.

“In Europe, we must redefine our interests – without false nostalgia,” Merz said.