German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out the possibility of a direct peace summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The stance directly challenges expectations previously raised by U.S. officials.
Berlin Dismisses Hopes for Immediate Putin-Zelenskyy Summit
Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting with Emmanuel Macron at Fort de Brégançon, Merz pointed to recent diplomatic contacts involving Ukraine, European national security advisers, and U.S. mediators. Despite these efforts, he noted that Moscow has shown little readiness to negotiate.
Contrasting Assessments From Washington and Berlin
The assessment from Berlin follows statements made earlier in the month by Donald Trump.
Following a meeting of European leaders at the White House, Trump asserted that he had successfully arranged a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. Moscow quickly moved to cool those expectations, signaling that an immediate summit was unlikely.
Merz reinforced that view during an interview with the German private broadcaster n-tv, stating that the Russian leadership currently prefers military escalation over dialogue.
“You see, at the moment the Russian president does not want to negotiate, he wants to bomb and we must oppose this more strongly,” Merz told n-tv, adding that “there will come a day when he is ready to negotiate.”
Accusations of Hybrid Warfare Across Europe
Beyond stalled peace efforts, Merz accused Moscow of waging a multi-pronged campaign against Europe. He described Russian strategy as a hybrid war directed at the stability of the entire region.
“He’s waging an information war against us. He’s waging a military war against Ukraine, and this war is directed against all of us. Russia is an enemy of the political order and stability of our region,” Merz said.
Drone Sightings Disrupt Munich Airport Operations
The German leader also addressed recent security incidents involving unmanned aerial systems across Europe. Merz stated on Sunday that he assumes Russia is behind numerous drone sightings over Germany last weekend.
These incidents included drone activity that disrupted operations at Munich Airport. Flight schedules were temporarily suspended during the disruption, leaving more than 10,000 passengers stranded.
Berlin Vows Defiance Against External Provocations
While acknowledging the severity of these provocations, Merz insisted that Berlin remains resolute against external pressure.
“Putin wants to intimidate and instil fear, but we will not be intimidated, and we will effectively defend ourselves against this threat,” Merz said, emphasizing that his government is fully aware of the ongoing security challenges.
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