Merz sets E5 priorities Defence, Ukraine and Iran

Jun 24

In his complete June 24 Berlin opening statement, Friedrich Merz welcomes Macron, Meloni, Starmer and Tusk for preparations for the NATO summit in Ankara. He thanks Starmer for their cooperation and explicitly regrets his coming departure from office. He says Rutte joined the working session from Washington and that he will brief Trump, Erdoğan and other partners. Merz presents five messages: allied unity; a stronger European pillar and implementation of the Hague commitments, including raising defence spending to 3.5% and Germany's aim to reach that level in 2029; joint European and transatlantic defence policy and industrial work on air defence, standoff weapons, AI and other systems; a proposed firm European NATO funding commitment to Kyiv, sustained support and a call for Russian peace talks; and support for the U.S.–Iran framework and follow-up negotiations in Bürgenstock, with a German contribution conditional on prerequisites being met. These are his proposals, plans and assessments, rather than completed summit decisions or a verified deployment.

In their June 24 Berlin statements, Merz, Macron, Meloni, Starmer and Tusk reaffirm support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia. Macron recalls the Évian G7 commitments on military and energy resilience and oil-and-gas sanctions; Starmer calls for further military assistance and sanctions. Merz calls for continued pressure, Meloni urges determination and transatlantic unity, and Tusk emphasizes European–Ukrainian security interests. These are public commitments and negotiating positions, not completed deliveries or a peace settlement. Channel One's same-day report describes a joint call for a European place in Ukraine peace talks, Zelensky's absence and Starmer's aid-and-sanctions appeal. Its hostile characterization of the leaders as warmongers seeking to prolong war and obstruct peace remains the reporter's interpretation. The complete report is also connected separately to the Berlin consultation and defence pledges; its national spending and Ankara-coordination material is not erased.