German chancellor says Russia not ready yet for peace talks with Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that Russia is currently not interested in entering into negotiations with Ukraine to end the war.

“We are making extensive diplomatic efforts. One of these was the German foreign minister’s visit to New York and his meeting with the Russian foreign minister. Russia’s final assessment of that meeting has shown that Russia is apparently not at all interested in serious talks at this time,” Merz said at a press briefing with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Berlin.

The German leader urged Russia again to return to the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, Merz vowed his country’s "continued support for Ukraine, not only militarily, but also politically, financially, and economically.”

The chancellor reiterated that Russia will “not win this war.”

Asked if he would be willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in the US, Merz evaded the question.

Germany has been among Ukraine’s largest military supporters in Europe since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022.