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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he asked the president Donald Trump To put more pressure on Russia, as its three-year war against Ukraine showed no signs of slowing down, despite repeated attempts by the White House to be a broker peace between the two warring countries.
Merz met with Trump at the White House on Thursday for his first visit to Washington, D.C., days after Ukraine launched a surprise drone attack on the nation’s Russian aviation base in May.
He said in an interview with the Special Report: “Only power can bring peace.
“Russia has it Stop this war Immediately. They can stop it overnight. So that's why I asked the President to walk with us and put more pressure on Putin to end this terrible war. ”
U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met on June 5, 2025 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump has been insisting on additional secondary sanctions on Moscow as his administration continues to try to end the war in Russia.
Ukraine destroys dozens of Russian fighter jets, drones hit Russia's depths
Kiev and Moscow held a second round of dialogue in Istanbul on Monday, which failed to bring the needles closer to ensure a ceasefire agreement. They both agreed to another massive prisoner exchange that would bring wounded troops back home.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire earlier this year, which Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected.
The image depicts Ukrainian President Vodimir Zelensky along with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Fox News Digital Image)
one Bipartisan sanctions bill Sens in RS.C. Lindsey Graham and D-Conn. The support of Richard Blumenthal will impose additional serious economic penalties on Russia and its supporters to force Moscow to engage in "integrity negotiations".
Middle East oil power bans Russian "shadow fleet" ships, trying to undermine sanctions
“Our legislation will isolate Russia – put it on a trade island by imposing serious tariffs on other countries supporting these atrocities” Blumenthal says In the press release. "One of the main priorities of our legislation is to put China in charge of supporting Putin's war machine by buying cheap Russian oil from the shadow fleet. Without China's economic support, Putin's war machine will stop falling into trouble."
Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that he had not seen the sanctions bill but believed its path would be "guided" by him.
U.S. President Donald Trump greeted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz when he arrived on the west wing of the White House in Washington, D.C. on June 5, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
He said: "I'm a very fast learning. At the right time, I'll do what I want to do, but it's likely OK. I have to see. But they're waiting for me to decide what to do, I know, maybe soon."
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Merz acknowledged the “Special Report” guest host Aishah Hasnie, “it’s very complicated” to bring Russians to the table.
"That's why I asked the president to do more on Russia and put pressure on Russia," he said. "You know there is one bill drafted by the Senate Implement more sanctions. (i) Just had a debate with some colleagues in the Senate, so I really hope we can keep going and we will do the same. The same goal is to end this terrible war. ”