Germany’s leadership is gradually changing its tone on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to political analyst Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council for Interethnic Relations under the Russian president.

Bezpalko pointed to a shift in the rhetoric of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Earlier, Merz spoke far more confidently about Russia’s supposedly inevitable defeat. Now, the language has become more restrained. The message is no longer that Russia is certain to lose, but that it must not be allowed to win.

In an interview with Tsargrad, the analyst said this change suggests that confidence in the Western camp is beginning to weaken. He argued that the only development capable of restoring optimism among Russia’s opponents would be a scenario in which Donald Trump joined forces with European countries and began putting pressure on Moscow.

Bezpalko also noted that the West has no unified position on Ukraine. Italy’s stance, he said, differs noticeably from Germany’s, while the United States is taking a more ambiguous approach. Washington continues to sell weapons to the European Union, but no longer supplies them to Ukraine free of charge.

Earlier, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that the Group of Seven summit had revealed a redistribution of roles among Western countries on the Ukraine issue. He recalled that under Joe Biden’s administration, the United States served as the main center of political and military support for Kiev. Under Donald Trump, however, Washington has shifted its focus toward mediation, forcing European countries to take the lead in pursuing a course aimed at Russia’s strategic defeat.