Merz on Lithuania visit says Russia threatens ‘safety in Europe’ | World News

VILNIUS: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Thursday that Russia threatened safety in Europe, throughout a visit to Lithuania to mark the formation of his nation’s first everlasting abroad navy unit since World War II.“There is a threat to us all from Russia,” Merz stated at a press convention in Vilnius. “We are protecting ourselves against this threat — and that is why we are here today.”The 5,000-strong heavy fight brigade, which shall be constructed up in coming years, is aimed toward bolstering Nato‘s japanese flank and deterring potential Russian aggression.The deployment was prompted by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Stationing a navy unit overseas completely is unprecedented in the post-war historical past of the Bundeswehr, because the German armed forces are recognized.Merz, who took workplace this month, stated the safety state of affairs on Nato’s japanese fringes “remains very tense”.“Russia’s aggressive revisionism threatens not only the security and territorial integrity of Ukraine — this revisionism threatens our common security in Europe,” he stated.By deploying a brigade to Lithuania and ramping up defence spending, Germany wished to “send a clear signal to our allies” that it was “investing in our security”, he added.“Together with our partners, we are determined to defend the territory of the alliance against any aggression. The security of our Baltic allies is also our security.”Lithuania and fellow Baltic nations Estonia and Latvia, former Soviet states which have develop into Nato and EU members, worry they’re more and more in Moscow’s crosshairs.Germany is Ukraine’s greatest navy backer after the United States, and Merz emphasised that Kyiv’s allies “will not allow Russia to drive a wedge between us”.“We stand firmly alongside Ukraine but we also stand together as Europeans and, whenever possible, we work as a team with the United States.”Merz stated Berlin hoped “that there is a chance of reaching a ceasefire and then peace negotiations” however added that the method might take weeks and even months.Moscow has for weeks defied Western strain for an unconditional and fast truce in its greater than three-year offensive in Ukraine.