German Chancellor Friedrich Merz informed President Donald Trump that he holds a “strong position” to halt Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. In response, President Trump proposed that perhaps the world should “let them fight for a little while.”

“America is again in a very strong position to do something on this war and ending this war,” Merz said, while also referencing the U.S.’s role in ending World War II on the eve of the anniversary of D-Day, which marked the turn of events that led to the defeat of Nazi Germany. “So let’s talk about what we can do jointly, and we are ready to do what we can.”

Merz called for more pressure to be placed on Russia in coordination with European allies. 

President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet in the Oval Office of the White House on June 5, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Reporters asked Merz, who has been an ardent supporter of Ukraine and recently lifted Germany’s existing strike bans, if he agrees with Trump that “fighting it out” was the way to proceed. 

“I think we both agree on this war and how terrible this war is. And we are both looking for ways to stop it very soon,” Merz said. “I told the president before we came in that he is the key person in the world who can really do that now by putting pressure on Russia, and we will have this debate later on again, how we can proceed jointly between the Europeans and the Americans. 

European leaders, from left, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, hold a telephone conversation with President Trump at the 6th European Political Community summit on May 16, 2025, at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania. (KuglerSteffen/Bundesregierung via Getty Images)

“I think we are all… having the duty to do something on that now, to stop it after three and a half years, which is really terrible,” he added, making it clear without directly contradicting the president that he did not agree with Trump. 

“We are on the side of Ukraine, and we are trying to get them stronger and stronger just to make Putin stop this war. This is our approach,” Merz added.