German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday condemned Russia for continuing their attacks on Ukraine “with undiminished ferocity,” adding that Russia-Ukraine truce talks had also “fallen short” of expectations.
Speaking alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, Merz vowed to continue to increase the pressure on Moscow with added sanctions.
Merz and Meloni met for bilateral talks ahead of Sunday’s inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican.
Merz’s remarks came a day after the first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years failed to yield a ceasefire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had spurned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to meet face-to-face in Turkey after he himself proposed direct negotiations — although not at the presidential level — as an alternative to a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, including the US.
“Yesterday’s talks in Istanbul fell short of our expectations, despite a maximally constructive attitude on the part of the Ukrainian negotiators,” Merz said Saturday.
“At least the delegations were able to agree on an exchange of prisoners, but Russia has so far refused to accept the demand for a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire.”
In Istanbul, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, according to the heads of both delegations, in what would be their biggest such swap.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he plans to speak by phone on Monday with Putin, followed by Zelenskyy and leaders of various NATO countries, about ending the war in Ukraine.
The two leaders also said Europe is a long way from talking about deploying troops in Ukraine, saying efforts are currently focused on securing an unconditional ceasefire.
“There is no reason to talk about (troops) at the moment, we are far from that. We want the weapons to stop, the killing to end — these are the questions we are dedicated to now, and no others,” Merz said.
Gaza situation ‘increasingly dramatic’
Meloni said her discussions with Merz also included the Gaza crisis, as Israel launched a major military offensive to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages.
“We cannot remain indifferent to what is happening in Gaza where the situation is increasingly difficult, increasingly dramatic,” said Meloni.
Meloni has been among the strongest supporters of Israel amid the offensive in Gaza, but has recently come under increasing pressure at home to condemn their escalating military campaign.
Earlier this week, Meloni urged Israel to respect international law in its military operation in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation there “unjustifiable”.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry also expressed concern about Israel’ ground offensive on Saturday, in another significant tone shift from one of Israel’s most loyal allies.
More than 150 people had been killed in Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It said more than 3,000 have been killed since Israel broke a January ceasefire on 18 March.
Additional sources • AP
