German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is standing firm on military aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

"We support Ukraine, and we will continue to support her, because she is also defending our freedom," Merz said on September 9 during a debate in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament.

He was reacting to Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel, who had urged him to "finally start pushing for peace talks, like the US is doing."

US President Donald Trump has indicated that he would make far-reaching concessions to Russia at such negotiations; critics in Germany have described that as dictated peace.

On the topic of high energy prices in Germany, Weidel said, "We need cheap natural gas from Russia. That is what we will work toward."