Putin says he is open to talking to German Chancellor Merz
Russian President Vladimir Putin told DPA on Wednesday in Saint Petersburg that he was open to speaking to the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Si Merz initiated a conversation.
If Merz had to call and wanted to speak, Putin said he would take the call.
“We are still open to this,” he told DPA.
Putin, however, said that he did not consider Germany as neutral with regard to the Russian war against Ukraine – what is called a “special operation” in Russia.
Germany, he said, is on the side of Ukraine, providing tanks to the country and thus participating in hostilities and is therefore not a mediator.
The chief of the Kremlin made these remarks during a meeting with representatives of major international press agencies, marking his first public comments on the Chancellor since the Merz election in May.
Since his entry into office, Merz has had no contact with Putin but has repeatedly called the chief of the Kremlin, both in the speeches and during a visit to kyiv, to accept a cease-fire in the Russian war against Ukraine-so far without success.
German-Russian relations are at its lowest. Merz, in particular, faced criticism in Moscow for having adopted a position of confrontation towards Russia.
Russia opposed the delivery of Germany’s arms to Ukraine and has issued solid warnings, in particular against the supply of cruise missiles to kyiv for attacks on Russian territory. Putin said German aid has no impact on the fighting in Ukraine.
