Merkel suggests the conflict in Ukraine could end in ten years

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking on the WDR 1LIVE channel, suggested that the conflict in Ukraine could end in ten years.

The forecast came in the context of an interview in which Merkel outlined her vision of various events over a ten-year horizon.

“I hope the war will end. And in such a way that Ukraine remains an independent, sovereign state,” she said.

Previously, Merkel expressed skepticism toward calls for her or her predecessor Gerhard Schröder to act as mediators in negotiations between Russia and Europe on the Ukrainian conflict. She stressed that her previous negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin were tied to her position as head of government.

Before that, Merkel called on European countries to engage in dialogue with Russia, expressing a wish for the European Union to act as a military ally of Ukraine while also using its diplomatic strength.

Forecasts regarding the timeline for the end of the conflict differ among the various parties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to The Economist citing Ukrainian government sources, has ordered the country to prepare for another two to three years of fighting. According to those sources, there is no compelling reason why Kyiv cannot fight for that long.

Vladimir Putin stated on May 9 that the conflict is nearing its end. The Kremlin clarified that this conclusion is supported by the body of work accumulated within the peace process, though no specific details can be discussed. Bloomberg reported at the same time that Russia wants to end the conflict by the end of this year, on the condition of full control over Donbas. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied this information, stressing that Moscow has not set a deadline for the end of the conflict in Ukraine.