Merz's spokesperson says Europe ready to take over from US in talks with putin
A spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that European leaders are ready to take a leading role in negotiations to end russia’s war against Ukraine.
It was reported by Politico.
"What is new, I believe, is that this process is now gaining new momentum in Europe. Another new development is that we are taking up and continuing the negotiation process that the U.S. has largely led. We are doing this in close coordination with the U.S.," Stefan Kornelius, Merz’s spokesperson, said following a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany and the UKin London late Sunday.
Merz’s spokesperson’s remarks followed a statement by the German chancellor and his counterparts from France, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine, who called for “direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia with the active participation of the United States and Europe” and laid out five conditions for achieving peace, including an immediate and complete ceasefire.
According to Kornelius, European leaders will continue to discuss their approach to potential peace talks at the G7 meeting and during the European Council summit in Brussels next week.
"We need the broadest possible support from all European partners in order to actually push toward peace," he said.
The publication noted that it remains unclear whether russian dictator vladimir putin is ready to sit down at the negotiating table with European leaders, who have been excluded from direct talks, despite the fact that they have long sought to play a greater role in shaping a possible resolution to the conflict.
Earlier, putin proposed former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a kremlin ally, as a potential negotiator in peace talks regarding Ukraine. This proposal was quickly rejected by European capitals.
Kornelius noted that bringing putin to the negotiating table “could take weeks or even months,” and that “only a strong Ukraine and pressure on Russia will persuade Putin to back down.” He emphasized that Europe must be ready when that time comes.
“We also need to establish a willingness to engage in dialogue and agree on the conditions under which such talks can even take place. All of this is part of the preparation. We are in a phase of reorientation,” he said.
As a reminder, in May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that peace talks between russia and Ukraine have so far “not been fruitful,” and the US is not interested in endless meetings without progress. At the same time, the country is ready to continue participating in the talks if they prove productive.