Germany’s Merz says Putin peace talks offer is ‘nowhere near enough’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday insisted that a ceasefire in Ukraine must be agreed before talks between the warring parties can take place.

“We expect from Moscow that it will agree to a ceasefire now, that will then allow serious conversations,” Merz said in Berlin after returning from his first visit to Kiev. “First the weapons must go silent, then conversations can begin.”

Merz was responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey from Thursday.

Ukraine has agreed to the ceasefire plan with “no ifs or buts,” argued the chancellor, who took office earlier this week.

“It is a positive sign that the Russian side has signalled a readiness to talk,” Merz suggested. “But it is nowhere near enough.”

The comments came after Merz met with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Poland’s Donald Tusk in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday to push for a 30-day ceasefire beginning Monday.

Macron also responded to Putin’s offer on Sunday, saying “there can be no dialogue if, at the same time, civilians are being bombed,” in a post on X.