Germany Merz puts forward his own Ukraine proposal
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has, according to his own statements, made an attempt to get at least one step closer to peace in Ukraine by Thursday. He had made a proposal "below the comprehensive proposal of these 28 points" from the US peace plan, said Merz at the G20 summit in Johannesburg. However, he did not want to present this in detail. It would be discussed in Geneva.
23.11.2025, 15:29
23.11.2025, 16:30
SDA
It was a matter of "at least taking a first step on Thursday". This is when a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Ukraine expires. "If all of the 28 points listed there are too much for five days, then I would at least like to make an attempt to reach an agreement with Russia, on the Ukrainian side and with the agreement of the Americans and the Europeans."
Negotiations will be held on the 28 points, "at least on parts of them", Merz said afterwards in an RTL/n-tv interview. He hoped that at least a partial result would be achieved by Thursday. "More is probably not achievable, but we have to make progress and Donald Trump is certainly right about that," said the Federal Chancellor.
Merz: "Russia has not kept to this agreement"
With regard to short deadlines for a peace solution, Merz expressed his skepticism. "Perhaps we can make progress, but I remain skeptical that this will happen in the short time available."
Merz reiterated his call for robust security guarantees for Ukraine. In a telephone call on Friday, he reminded US President Donald Trump of the promises Russia had broken as part of the Budapest Memorandum.
Ukraine was the third-largest nuclear power at the time. "They were all dismantled and all returned and all scrapped. And in return, Ukraine received Russia's assurance of territorial integrity. And Russia has not kept to this agreement," said Merz. Just like back then, "Russia cannot be trusted again in 2025", he said.
