By Hammad Kahlun,
International Correspondent,
Scandinavian News Agency Finland
Turku, Finland German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday that Russia and President Vladimir Putin remain Not Interested in a ceasefire, placing sole responsibility for ending the war on the Kremlin.
Merz: Peace Talks Depend Entirely on Putin
Speaking in Turku during a meeting with Nordic prime ministers, Merz said ending the war “depends solely on the Russian government and the Russian president.”
He added that starting negotiations, and any subsequent peace talks, rests entirely on Putin’s will a willingness Merz said Russia continues to withhold.
No Illusions of Quick Progress
Merz said he had no expectation the process would move quickly.
He pointed to Russia’s failure to respond to peace-talk invitations from the Vatican and other mediators as evidence of the Kremlin’s current stance.
Merz argued that this pattern of non-engagement demonstrates Russia and Putin currently have no genuine Not Interested in pursuing a truce or ceasefire.
Germany to Continue Backing Ukraine
With Putin refusing to negotiate, Merz said Germany has no alternative but to keep supporting Ukraine “in its struggle for survival against Russian aggression.”
He confirmed Berlin will coordinate this support with its European partners.
Finland-Germany Ties in Focus
The remarks came during Merz’s meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, where both leaders underscored the depth of Finnish-German cooperation on political, economic, and security matters.
Orpo praised Germany’s contribution to Ukraine and highlighted its strategic role in security across the Baltic Sea region.
Context: Merz’s Earlier Remarks on Russia
Earlier this year, Merz described Russia’s current trajectory as having reached “the nadir of profound barbarism.”
He also ruled out any resumption of Russian gas supplies to Germany for as long as Putin continues what Merz Not Interested called his “criminal war.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, accused by Germany of avoiding peace talks
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