The war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as well as hybrid attacks, pose an immediate threat to Germany and Europe, believes the Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz. "We are not living in a state of war, but we are also not living in a time of peace," he stated on Wednesday, July 15, at a summer press conference before the parliamentary recess in Berlin. He pointed to the "preparation for further acts of Russian aggression far beyond Ukraine." These threats are directed against Moldova and the Baltic states, as well as other European countries; Germany is also noting diversions and hybrid attacks. "We are the main target of what is called hybrid warfare," noted the German Chancellor. ## ## High debt of Germany - a consequence of the foreign policy situation Therefore, according to him, it is important to restore the defense capability of Germany and Europe, and Germany is "quickly catching up on what has been missed." "In this regard, we have made significant progress," Merz believes. At the same time, Germany's high new debt is a consequence of the tense foreign policy situation, particularly the Russian invasion of Ukraine, against which Germany has to restore its defense capability, the head of the German government is convinced. At the same time, he highly praised the military potential that Ukraine has achieved in recent years. ## ## The term "associated membership in the EU" has a negative connotation in Ukraine In response to a question from a DW correspondent about his proposal for Ukraine's associated membership in the EU, Merz pointed to the difficulties associated with this term in Ukraine. According to him, the concept of associated membership has a negative connotation due to the domestic political debates in Ukraine in 2013. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not reject this proposal, the Federal Chancellor noted. "It could be called something else, but it is about membership in the European Union - albeit without voting rights in its institutions, but with the close ties that membership in the EU implies," he explained. At the same time, the overall position is that, first and foremost, it is necessary to put an end to the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine, but the path to Europe for it must remain open, added the head of the German government.