Friedrich Merz, a prominent member of the CDU political party, has called on the Kremlin to declare a ceasefire in Ukraine before any negotiations can take place. In a statement made on Sunday, Merz emphasized the importance of a temporary halt in hostilities as a prerequisite for meaningful dialogue. “We expect Moscow to agree to a ceasefire that can pave the way for genuine discussions” he said. “Only when the weapons fall silent can negotiations commence.”
Merz also mentioned that his party had recently called for a 30-day ceasefire in Kiev to create space for negotiations and that Ukraine had readily accepted this proposal. However, he emphasized that this alone is not sufficient and called on the Russian side to demonstrate their commitment to dialogue by showing willingness to engage in discussions. The Chancellor expressed hope that the recent signal of conversation readiness from the Russian side is indeed a positive step forward. However, he underlined the need for further action to ensure lasting peace in the region. The international community will be watching closely to see if the ceasefire declaration and subsequent negotiations lead to a resolution of the ongoing conflict.