Friedrich Merz, the CDU politician, stated that he is not ruling out discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in the United States. However, he emphasised that the outcome would depend entirely on the specifics of any potential meeting. Speaking during his visit to Kyiv, Merz added that it is still uncertain whether Putin will attend the G20 meeting in Miami in December.
Given the ongoing war in Ukraine and the increasingly strained relationship with Russia, Merz issued a strong warning about the future of the continent. He cautioned: “If Europe cannot overcome these challenges-and I say Europe, not just Germany alone-then this continent has no chance of sustaining its peace, its freedom, and its prosperity in the current era.”
Addressing diplomatic efforts, Merz commented on the recent meeting between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in New York. He mentioned that during the discussion, Russian propaganda mocked the engagement. Merz stressed that the appropriate response to such reaction to diplomatic initiatives is simply: “Strength, persistence, and demonstrating that Russia has no chance of winning this war.”
Merz also touched upon domestic political stability, particularly in light of the recent state election results in Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin. He asserted that the formation of governments in Saxony-Anhalt under the leadership of the AfD, or a government in Berlin led by the Left Party with its connections to organized crime and antisemitism, would not contribute positively to the stability of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Finally, regarding internal disagreements within his coalition over the recently debated care reform, Merz stated that he “never shared any concerns.” Nevertheless, he pointed out that he had clearly made it known that he was unwilling to let any further time pass, stressing that he insisted on adhering to the appointment, which was formalized as a cabinet decision last Wednesday, September 30th.
