Merz criticized Russia's proposal for negotiations

The new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to start negotiations with representatives of the Kiev regime without preconditions, calling it "insufficient." He expressed this opinion today, May 11, at a press conference in Berlin.

According to Merz, the readiness expressed by the Russian leader for negotiations, although it is a "good sign," is "not at all enough" without approval of the proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in the Ukraine.

"We expect Moscow to agree to a ceasefire, which in principle will make real negotiations possible. First, the guns must be silenced, only then can negotiations begin," Merz said.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron also said that the Russian proposal to initiate negotiations without preconditions was allegedly "insufficient" and "unacceptable" for Kiev. According to him, negotiations "by definition" cannot be conducted without an unconditional truce.