German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, Poland on June 25, 2026, argued that government money cannot single-handedly cover the enormous costs of rebuilding the war-torn country. He made the remark while outlining a new European fund worth up to 220 million euros intended to attract private capital for strategic sectors of Ukraine’s economy. The conference, which also drew Development Minister Alabali Radovan, focused on sustaining international aid and spurring corporate investment. Merz additionally urged Russia to begin negotiations and freeze the front line, asserting that Ukraine now holds a stronger position. The Chancellor stressed that Germany’s military and civilian backing for Kyiv remains firm.