Chatty Putin Keen on gabbing with Zelensky - and Merz too!
Diplomatic dialogue proposed by Putin, with potential inclusion of Zelensky in discussions - Open dialogue is proposed by Putin, encompassing potential discussions with Zelensky.
Wanna know some juicy gossip from St. Petersburg? Vladimir Putin's spilling the beans! The Russian prez is eager to chitchat with none other than Volodymyr Zelenskyy, baby flexin' those diplomatic muscles - if conditions are right, of course. And guess who else gets a call? Why, Friedrich Merz of the CDU, of course!
Germany - Russia Relations Going Cold
Last we heard, Moscow viewed Germany as less than welcoming. Compared to Russia, Deutschland ain't fairin' so hot either, with 'em seein' the former nation as hostile. In the news lately, they've been callin' the shots for Ukraine, supplyin' 'em tanks and whatnot, while Russia and Ukraine clash away.
Putin opened up about Merz for the first time since May. Merz, who's yet to lock horns with Putin, has been houndin' ol' Vlad for a ceasefire in the Russian-Ukraine ruckus with no luck so far. Tensions between Russia and Germany are at an all-time low, with Moscow up in arms over Deutschland's arms deliveries to Ukraine.
It's gotten so bad, some are claimin' that Russia's been involved in shady business, from hackin' the Bundestag in 2015 to espionage acts against the Bundeswehr. Ah, the good old days!
Let's Make a Deal, Zelensky!
Vlad's also game for a sit-down with Volodymyr under one condition: Kyiv and the West cool it with the supportive talk that keeps Ukraine fightin' on. He's lookin' for genuine peace negotiations, you know, to put an end to this catpaw business ASAP, preferably through peaceful resolutions. Oh, and who signs the final peace accord matters too - it's gotta be some legit bigwigs, not Zelensky on his own, seein' as his five-year term ran out last year. Kiev's insistent that elections can't be held 'cause of the state of war, though, believin' Zelensky still holds the reins.
Let's Get Quizzical!
Vlad and the press went toe-to-toe in a Q&A extravaganza at the start of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) - an event designed to show the world that Russia isn't lonely on account of Western isolation. This fancified conservatory gig in St. Pete also serves as a workaround for those pesky sanctions Russia claims are bogus. They even invited U.S. bureaucrats for a heart-to-heart!
Some folks will be waltzin' their way to St. Pete over the next few days, hopin' to grab a piece of the action. Organizers are estimatin' around 20,000 participants from 140 countries by Saturday. Vlad's set to drop some economic wisdom on Friday, just before he fires up the Q&A section later that day. No word on Ol' Merz attendin' yet, though.
Speakin' of which, Russia's back in the black thanks to its booming war economy and natural resource sales, but face problems like high inflation and steep interest rates that boost the cost of investments. Fancy that!
- Wanna vent about world tensions between Russia and Ukraine? Chatter it up. Vladimir Putin
- Longing for a truce - we're havin' a peace party, and Friedrich Merz is invited.
- St. Petersburg shines as a beacon of collaboration, defying international obstacles
- Struggling economy? Russian economy's going strong, thanks to its war economy and natural resources.
- St. Pete's SPIEF - the event that shakes up the world and wheedles its way around sanctions.
- As the Commission adopts a proposal for a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States, the political landscape of Europe is further reshaped by escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
- In the midst of these conflicts, the general news stories are filled with Putin's diplomatic maneuvers, Merz's persistent calls for ceasefire, and the upcoming SPIEF in St. Petersburg, a symbol of Russia's attempt to maintain international engagements despite sanctions and Western isolation.
