Friedrich Merz says Europe will choose its own negotiators
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that his predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, could serve as the European Union’s chief negotiator in talks with Russia.
Speaking at the Charlemagne Prize ceremony in Aachen, Merz commented on the Russian proposal to begin peace talks.
“We Europeans decide for ourselves who will speak on our behalf. No one else. Europe has the ability to help shape a new world order, to ensure that it is governed by norms and rules, not arbitrariness and the law of the strongest,” Merz said.
Dialogue requires both sides
Dialogue requires two sides and the willingness of both to take part. In that context, Merz’s statement can be seen as a step away from negotiations.
A day earlier, Putin said it was Europe, not Russia, that had refused dialogue. He also named what he described as the only requirement for an EU negotiator: that the person should not have made insulting statements about Moscow.
