Ball's in Moscow's Court: Merz eyes extended Ukraine ceasefire
A truce could be within reach within the coming days, according to Merz's perspective.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is hopeful that a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine could materialize in the next few days, as Europe and the US have aligned their support. The ball is now in Russia's court.
Merz's optimism surfaced during his first visit to Brussels, where he expressed his belief that an agreement for an extended ceasefire could be reached over the weekend. He cautioned Russia that additional sanctions loom if peace talks do not transpire.
The three-day ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, timed to coincide with World War II commemorations in Moscow, has been met with skepticism from Ukraine, which still craves a 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine's call for an extended ceasefire is echoed in a US proposal, backed by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as per Merz.
"We have drafted a joint communique that closely resembles the US proposal," Merz stated. "We anxiously await its acceptance on the Russian side," he added, emphasizing that the responsibility for progress now lies squarely with Moscow.
As the international community watches this unfold, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arranged a meeting of the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" in Kyiv on Saturday. Although the participants have yet to be announced, the coalition is anticipated to include leaders from around 30 nations, led by France and Britain, gathered to support Ukraine after confrontations with Russia.
In the event the ceasefire is secured, the coalition plans to work on aid to bolster Ukraine after a possible ceasefire. The "Coalition of the Willing" was established over three years ago to provide aid to Ukraine as it resists Russian aggression, and though the US is not part of this group, it has pressured both sides to come to an agreement on a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Merz threatened to impose new sanctions on Russia if the ceasefire fails to materialize or is routinely violated. These sanctions and continued military support from the US and EU underscore the international community's commitment to aiding Ukraine during this critical period of potential peace talks.
Sources: ntv.de, toh/AFP
- Friedrich Merz
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Ukraine
- Donald Trump
- Russia
- European Union, along with the US and other influential leaders, are urging Russia to agree on an extended ceasefire in Ukraine.
- Friedrich Merz, in his recent visit to Brussels, indicated that an agreement for a 30-day ceasefire could potentially be reached over the weekend.
- Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, has arranged a meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" on Saturday to support Ukraine if a ceasefire is secured.
- Friedrich Merz has warned that additional sanctions against Russia could be imposed if peace talks do not transpire, signifying a collective global commitment to aiding Ukraine during this critical period of potential peace talks.
