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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the NATO summit in Ankara would give the alliance new impetus and contribute to strengthening its unity.
According to Anadolu Agency, speaking to reporters ahead of the main session of the 36th NATO Summit, Merz thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for hosting the gathering and for its high-level organization.
He recalled that NATO leaders had agreed in The Hague last year to significantly strengthen the alliance's defense capabilities and said those commitments were now being implemented.
Merz noted that most European Union and NATO member states had substantially increased their defense spending. He added that preserving NATO's transatlantic character also requires making the alliance "more European."
As an example of closer cooperation, the German chancellor referred to a joint submarine modernization project involving Germany, Norway, and Canada.
"This will strengthen our cooperation across the entire Atlantic region for decades to come," he said.
Merz said the summit would also focus on advancing joint defense initiatives and expressed confidence that the Ankara meeting would give NATO new impetus, making the alliance stronger and more united.
He added that continued support for Ukraine also remains on the summit agenda, stressing that Berlin will continue backing Kyiv.
According to Merz, Europe has launched a program under which Ukraine will receive €70 billion in annual assistance in 2026 and 2027.
"The end of this war now depends solely on Russia. Russia has no chance of winning this war and will not achieve its military objectives. The sooner this war ends, the better it will be for Europe, for Russia, and for the entire world," Merz said.