Mertz: I would prefer to refrain from talking to Putin for a long time

.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to refrain from speaking to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. for a long time

He noted that after the recent visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Moscow, Russia struck Kyiv, hospitals were damaged. And after Putin's latest phone call with former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Russia hit a children's hospital, Merz said.

"Therefore, if this is the result of such phone calls, I would refrain from them for a long time," the chancellor said .

He also noted that US President Donald Trump is growing skeptical about Russia's war against Ukraine and is becoming more critical. In Europe, there is a broad consensus on the assessment of this war.

"I think President Trump is getting closer to that assessment," Mertz concluded .

• on June 20, Germany reacted to Putin's statement about his readiness to negotiate with Merz. This information was taken into account, but it was noted that "there is no direct contact.".
• On June 24, the German chancellor said that talks about peace with Putin should be conducted in the language of force. He emphasized that Russia does not want a ceasefire.