Survey: Most Germans think Merz cannot influence Trump on Ukraine

Only 13% of Germans believe that their chancellor, Friedrich Merz, can significantly influence US President Donald Trump on issues relating to the war in Ukraine, a new survey suggests.

The latest Trendbarometer survey conducted for broadcasters RTL/ntv found that 84% of German citizens do not believe Merz's opinion truly matters to Trump when it comes to the war in Ukraine. This sceptical attitude is even shared by 73% of people who support Merz's conservatives.

The survey, conducted by opinion research institute Forsa, also found that 81% of Germans do not expect a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev anytime soon.

Only 18% of those surveyed believe that calling on Ukraine to give up its Russian-occupied territories is the right thing to do.

Above-average support for such a course of action is found in eastern Germany (38%) and among supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (48%).

For the survey, 1,000 were questioned between August 19 and 20.