Putin feigned readiness for direct negotiations, according to Merz's statement
In a joint press conference on Friday, August 29, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed the continued support of a coalition of over 30 states in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. This coalition, which includes the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Canada, and several Eastern European and NATO countries, is providing diplomatic and military support to Ukraine.
The press conference followed intergovernmental consultations of Germany and France in Toulon, as reported by DW. Merz called for additional US tariffs against countries that continue to import Russian gas and oil, thereby indirectly financing Russia's military economy.
The main goal, according to Merz, is a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, with potential participation from other parties, if necessary. Macron intends to discuss this with the head of the White House over the coming weekend together with Merz.
However, Merz expressed skepticism about Putin's readiness for direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that Putin is only pretending to be ready for such discussions. The Russian side should be prepared to ensure a ceasefire for such a meeting to take place.
Germany is primarily involved in strengthening the Ukrainian armed forces, while France utilizes its diplomatic and military capabilities in the context of the conflict. Merz strongly advocates that Europeans and the American government should carefully discuss the next steps regarding the conflict.
The European goal is to maintain the "coalition of the willing," which consists of around 30 countries. If a meeting between Putin and Zelensky does not take place by Monday, it will become clear that Putin has fooled US President Donald, according to Macron.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not rule out that the war between Russia and Ukraine could last for many more months. The coalition remains committed to supporting Ukraine diplomatically and militarily until a peaceful resolution is achieved.
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