No backdoor diplomacy: German chancellor outlines EU condition for talks with Russia
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (photo: Getty Images)
The European Union is always ready to hold negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, but these must not involve "parallel channels of communication", German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, Reuters reported.
Merz told journalists during a visit to Abu Dhabi that the EU is ready for dialogue with Russia.
However, according to the German chancellor, such contacts must not contradict the main negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia.
"We are, of course, always ready to hold talks with Russia. Currently, coordinated talks are taking place here in Abu Dhabi ... if we can contribute to making these talks even better, even more successful, then we will do so. But we will not open any parallel channels of communication," Merz said.
Macron does not rule out contact with Putin
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested the possibility of contact "in the coming weeks" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, not ruling out holding relevant negotiations amid ongoing discussions on security and the war in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reacted sharply to Macron's statements about possible dialogue with Putin, saying such signals are demonstrative in nature and aimed at an external audience.
At the same time, earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron's chief diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne visited Moscow, where he held confidential meetings with representatives of the Russian leadership.
The purpose of the visit was Paris's attempt to secure Europe's participation in negotiations on the future security architecture and the process of ending the war in Ukraine.
