Merz Urges Russia to Freeze Front and Start Talks Now
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Russia should freeze the front line and start talks with Ukraine, while pledging continued Western support for Kiev.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes Russia should freeze the front line and enter negotiations with Ukraine, n-tv reported.
According to Merz, Kiev is now in a stronger position, while Moscow allegedly cannot secure victory. The chancellor said Western support for Ukraine would remain firm and argued that the G7 summit had created a renewed sense of transatlantic unity.
Merz said the message to Russia was clear: it was time to start talks and freeze the line of contact.
Earlier, Merz had also spoken of what he called the first real chance for peace, though he did not specify what had raised those expectations. The chancellor said the West would increase military assistance to Kiev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said it was impossible to name an exact timeframe for the end of the special military operation while fighting continues. At the same time, he said the situation on the battlefield allows Russia to speak of the conflict approaching its conclusion. According to Putin, Moscow expects the hostilities to end with Russia achieving its stated goals.