Introduction
Following the announcement of an agreement between the Social Democratic Party, the Christian Democratic Union, and the Christian Social Union to form the next German government, the mentioned parties—based on the political tradition in this country—published an agreement document outlining the direction and policies of the government for the next four years. This document, published on April 14, 2025, contains the main lines and general programs agreed upon by the parties in the upcoming coalition government led by Friedrich Merz. According to the latest media reports, the official decree of the President and the process of introducing the new German cabinet will commence on May 6, 2025. This report provides the key elements of the contents of this document regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine:
- In the international environment, enemies of freedom and democracy attempt to abolish these norms through military and security invasions. Authoritarian political regimes are growing and strengthening. Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine has endangered the security of Germany and Europe. Additionally, we are witnessing hybrid and composite attacks designed to undermine German social cohesion and disrupt our democracy and national security. Today, alongside foreign attacks, we also face internal security threats posed by anti-democratic regimes. The Federal Republic of Germany will make serious and decisive efforts to implement sanctions against Russia—sanctions imposed after its attack on Ukraine. We firmly support the European Union’s decisions to impose customs and tax restrictions on goods produced in Russia and Belarus to increase pressure on these countries.
- Germany’s national security has not faced such threats since the end of the Cold War. Today, the biggest and most direct threat to our national security originates from Russia, a country that has entered the fourth year of a brutal and illegal war against Ukraine. Russia’s military buildup continues. Vladimir Putin, the ruler of Russia, is making every effort to disrupt the rules-based international order.
- Support for Ukraine to enable it to defend against Russia’s war of aggression will continue forcefully. Defending the rules-based international order based on the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an inseparable part of our security strategy. Ukraine, as a strong and democratic sovereign state, capable of independently deciding its future within a Euro-Atlantic context, is of special importance to Germany’s national security. Therefore, the German government, in coordination with its partners, will continue and strengthen political, civil, and military support for Ukraine. We will strive to establish a joint and coordinated strategy with our European and American partners aimed at achieving a real and lasting peace, enabling Ukraine to determine its future from a position of power and independence. Guaranteeing Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty is a central part of this strategy.
- Germany will participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction. We are currently consulting with our allies to find a way to fully seize frozen Russian assets and use them to fund military and economic support for Ukraine. We support the NATO summit decision in Washington to offer Ukraine a membership prospect in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The German government officially proposes the formation of an international tribunal to address war crimes committed by the Russian army in Ukraine. This court should prosecute and hold accountable the perpetrators of these crimes.
