Ukraine Ceasefire Demand: Merz Slams Putin's Response as Inadequate
Putin's proposal is insufficient, according to Merz's assessment.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin's response to the demand for a 30-day Ukraine ceasefire, starting Monday, as inadequate. While Putin's willingness to talk is a promising first step, it's "nowhere near enough," Merz said in Berlin.
Insight: The demand for a ceasefire follows a three-day, unilateral truce declared by Russia, which Ukraine claims was riddled with violations. The international community is urging Moscow to agree to a lasting truce to pave the way for meaningful dialogue.
Politicos Speak Up
Political scientist Daniela Schwarzer states that Putin isn't just jousting with President Trump; he's aiming for a duel situation. French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that Putin's proposal is insufficient, as he attempts to buy time for a strategic advantage.
Insight: Macron says Putin's proposal is a first step but insufficient, emphasizing that talks should precede a ceasefire, not the other way around.
Ukraine's Stand
President Zelensky regards Russia's proposal for direct peace talks as a positive sign but insists on the ceasefire starting Monday. "The first step to ending a war is a ceasefire," Zelensky said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has asserted that a ceasefire would create a conducive environment for negotiations.
Insight: Advocates of the ceasefire argue that ongoing fighting makes it difficult to engage in meaningful dialogue.
CDU Politician's Take
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter calls Putin's offer an "evasive maneuver." He posits that Russia must accept the demand for a 30-day ceasefire before direct talks can begin. Kiesewetter questions the purpose of such talks, as there is no evidence suggesting Putin acknowledges Ukraine's right to exist within its legitimate borders.
Insight: Kiesewetter's skepticism reflects the broader concern that Putin may be using talks as a bargaining chip rather than a genuine attempt to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Source: ntv.de, gho/dpa/rts/AFP
- Friedrich Merz
- Vladimir Putin
- Emmanuel Macron
- Donald Tusk
- Keir Starmer
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Wars and Conflicts
- Peace Talks
- Ceasefire Demand
- Russia
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft resolution on the European Union's relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as general news regarding war-and-conflicts and politics continue to unfold, particularly in Ukraine.
- Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor, has expressed agreement with the international community's stance, urging Moscow to enable a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine to enable meaningful dialogue, following Vladimir Putin's response to the ceasefire demand as inferred as inadequate.
- In view of the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron have inferred that Putin's proposal for direct peace talks is a first step but insufficient, emphasizing that talks should precede a ceasefire, not the other way around, as advocated by politicians and political scientists.
- Roderich Kiesewetter, a CDU foreign policy expert, has inferred that Putin may be using talks as a bargaining chip rather than a genuine attempt to resolve the conflict peacefully, questioning whether Putin acknowledges Ukraine's right to exist within its legitimate borders and agreeing with the ceasefire demand as a prerequisite for direct talks.
