The key facts

  • Merz named sanctions and the security architecture as issues that cannot be resolved without Europe
  • Ushakov previously stated there were agreements only on trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine
  • According to the FT, the question of who will represent Europe at the talks has not yet been agreed

Statement by the German Chancellor

The key issues of a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine cannot be resolved without Europe's participation. This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as quoted by European Pravda (the report was carried by Gazeta.Ru). “A new round of peace talks is the right step. Europe wants to and must take part in this process. The key issues of a peaceful settlement are sanctions and the security architecture. They cannot be resolved without our participation. All parties understand this,” he noted. The Chancellor also emphasized that Russia must demonstrate its readiness for talks, and until then Berlin intends to continue supporting Ukraine.

Disagreements over the format of the talks

Merz's statement comes against the backdrop of disagreements over the composition of participants in the negotiation process. In late October, the Financial Times reported that France, Germany and the United Kingdom could represent Europe in future talks on Ukraine, but no agreement on this issue has yet been reached. On October 30, aide to the President of Russia Yuri Ushakov stressed: that Moscow, the United States and Ukraine have agreed only on trilateral talks, without other participants. Then Politico reported: that representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ukraine, the EU, NATO and the World Bank will hold talks in Brussels on Ukraine's reconstruction and its economic future. Thus, Berlin's position on the need for Europe's participation directly contradicts Ushakov's statement about a trilateral format. Earlier in Italy, criticism was leveled at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over the Ukraine talks.