German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the Bundestag on 9 July that “the means of diplomacy have been exhausted” in efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, signalling a hardened German stance after the collapse of the most recent peace contacts. Speaking during the chamber’s budget debate, Merz denounced Moscow as a “criminal regime” and said the situation now required Berlin to rely on deterrence and continued military assistance to Kyiv. Merz pledged that Germany will “continue to support Ukraine – even against the resistance of the political left and the Russia-friendly right in this chamber.” Germany has already provided almost €44 billion in military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2022, making it the country’s largest European backer. The chancellor did not detail new weapons packages but framed ongoing deliveries as essential after what he described as some of the heaviest recent Russian strikes on civilian targets. The remarks came as Merz defended higher defence spending and Germany’s wider security role within NATO, arguing that failing to invest in the Bundeswehr would have risked fracturing the alliance on the 70th anniversary of Berlin’s accession. His assessment that diplomatic avenues are depleted further underscores European concerns about a prolonged and escalating conflict in Ukraine.