Vladimir Putin has publicly raised the prospect of talks with the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for the first time – provided that Merz seeks contact. At the same time, he issued an urgent warning against deliveries of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. The Russian president also set conditions for a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky.

At the traditional meeting with international news agencies during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum (SPIEF), Putin showed himself willing to talk: “If the chancellor seeks contact, we are open to it.” This is the first time the Russian president has commented directly on the CDU politician since he was elected to office in May.

However, the offer was not without threats. If Berlin were to provide Taurus cruise missiles, Putin said, it would cause “very serious damage” to relations between Moscow and Berlin. His reasoning: “Only German officers can operate this weapon.” According to Putin, this would make Germany “effectively a party to the war.” In fact, a Taurus delivery – which has not yet been decided by the German government – would raise sensitive questions about involvement due to the necessary target programming.

No role for Germany as mediator

Putin also rejected once again the idea that Germany could play a mediating role in the Ukraine conflict.

For him, the Federal Republic is clearly on Ukraine’s side – not only through the delivery of Western tanks, but also through “German technology on Russian soil,” as he claimed with reference to operations in the Kursk region. Putin expressed confidence about the situation on the front lines, saying that the Russian army had “strategic advantages in all directions.”

Although Moscow is currently gaining ground in eastern Ukraine, experts speak of heavy losses on both sides.

Conditions for a meeting with Zelensky

Putin did not rule out talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in theory, but he did set conditions: Moscow continues to doubt Zelensky’s legitimacy, as his term of office formally ended in spring 2024. However, due to martial law, no elections have been held in Ukraine – a move that has been widely recognized internationally.

Putin indirectly indicated that he considers a peace agreement conceivable only with a new Ukrainian leadership. Kiev interprets this stance as blackmail, further reducing the chances of negotiations.

Credits: APA