German Chancellor Merz responds to Ukraine aid critics, issues strong warning to China

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected accusations that support for Ukraine is draining Germany's budget at the expense of domestic needs. He emphasized that funding for Kyiv has not led to cuts in social or educational programs, despite regular criticism from opponents about underfunding in these areas.

Shortly afterward, Merz turned to foreign policy, sending a direct and firm signal to Beijing. The chancellor made clear that Berlin is changing its approach to protecting its own market: "We will no longer stand aside when other countries harm our economy through high subsidies, artificial currency devaluation, excess production capacity, and aggressive pricing policies. Anyone who wants to provoke a trade conflict with us will find that we now defend our interests by applying appropriate measures."