Journalists at the German outlet Berliner Zeitung report that a rift has emerged inside the European Union over German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s stance on talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the newspaper, an increasing number of EU member states are aligning themselves with the positions of Paris and Rome, which insist on the need for a dialogue with Moscow. The authors note that, compared with countries such as France and Italy, Germany is showing striking restraint in its diplomatic efforts and, in their view, has yet to demonstrate any initiative of its own toward Russia.

Berliner Zeitung also recalls that only a week earlier Merz rejected proposals for direct negotiations with Putin. The paper states that its journalists have submitted an official request to the German government asking why no diplomatic initiatives toward Moscow have been launched so far.

The article further reminds readers that in February this year an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Moscow against the backdrop of three-way contacts between Russia, the United States and Ukraine. Western media suggested that during this visit the French official may have held a meeting with Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president.