German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has issued a renewed and pointed critique of Russian President Vladimir Putin, effectively ruling out negotiations at the present time. Speaking on the “Pinar Atalay” program on ntv, Merz stated that Putin currently demonstrates a willingness to escalate through bombardment rather than engage in dialogue.
Merz further asserted Putin’s disregard for agreements, referencing a recent instance involving a telephone conversation with former U.S. President Trump. Trump reportedly brokered an agreement for a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy within two weeks, a commitment that Putin failed to uphold.
Acknowledging the possibility of future discussions, Merz currently rejects the prospect of a personal meeting with Putin. He indicated that any attempt at communication appears to be followed by intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, citing a recent disagreement with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán regarding direct engagement with Putin. Orbán had advocated for Merz to personally negotiate with the Russian leader; Merz responded by emphasizing that Orbán’s efforts yielded no positive outcome, with the subsequent bombing of a children’s hospital in Kyiv serving as a direct response.
Despite this stance, Merz expressed a hopeful outlook, suggesting that a time will eventually arrive when Putin becomes receptive to negotiations.
Concerning Russia’s position on the international stage, Merz characterized the nation as “at least a formidable adversary and a foe to our political order”. He identified targeted Russian propaganda directed at himself and other Western politicians as part of a broader information war, a challenge that he viewed as a collective responsibility for the nation. He underscored his duty, as head of government, to make political decisions that safeguard the country against these dangers.
