LOS ANGELES (OC).–German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has taken a tough stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming that diplomacy has not worked to bring Russia to the peace table. Merz has threatened to send Ukraine’s 47-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky German-made Taurus long-range missiles enabling to Kiev government to strike deep inside the Russian Federation. Putin has said that if Merz approves Taurus missiles he would consider Germany an enemy combatant in the over three year war. Merz accused Putin of flouting diplomacy, plowing ahead with his war without responding to European Union’s [EU] demands for a 30-day ceasefire. Putin sent a peace delegation to Istanbul but preferred to let them work out any ceasefire or peace plans before he agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. Merz has taken a more belligerent tone with Putin in recent weeks.
Russian Foreign Minister Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova echoed Putin’s thoughts about Germany getting more directly involved in the Ukraine War. “Behind this entire verbal smokescreen lies the poorly disguised desire of the Merz government to also take part in strikes with our country,” Zakharova said. Zakharova warns Merz about getting directly involved in the Ukraine War, knowing that he speaks for the European Union. EU officials have echoed Merz statements with French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish President Donald Tusk all taking a belligerent line on Putin. Zakharova reminded Merz that giving Ukraine Taurus missiles would be regarded by the Kremlin as direct involvement in the Ukraine War. Merz knows all about the history of Germany’s Nazi assault on Russia during WW II, killing some 28 million Russians.
Merz, like other members of the EU, have said they would not commit German troops to help Ukraine win the war with the Kremlin. Merz’s predecessor, former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, refused to supply Zelensky with Taurus missiles precisely because it would escalate the war. But with respect to Merz, he’s been too harsh with Putin, claiming that diplomacy doesn’t work. Well, it hasn’t worked on his terms or that of Zelensky’s that demands that Putin enter into an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Putin finds it objectionable because he’s going through proper channels sending a peace delegation to Istanbul. Putin has not dismissed the peace process at all only wants it done in the more conventional way, with both peace delegations working out details of a settlement before he meets directly with Zelensky. EU demanded that Putin meet face-to-face with Zelensky.
Telling the German parliament that “the means of diplomacy have been exhausted,” when it comes to ending the Ukraine. After meeting only two brief times in Istanbul, Russia and Ukrainian peace delegations have a lot of work to do before, diplomacy has been exhausted. Why Merz wants to proceed to a more belligerent approach is anyone’s guess. EU officials have crafted new economic sanctions to induce Putin to enter into a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Putin believes he’s following a methodical peace protocol by sending a delegation to Istanbul to find an acceptable solution. Zelensky demanded that Putin reveal his “memorandum” or conditions for a ceasefire and peace talks. When Putin revealed the memorandum, Zelensky called it blackmail because Putin expects to collect his spoils of the Ukraine War, seizing some 25% of Ukraine’s best sovereign territory.
Merz needs to back off the belligerent rhetoric and fall in line with the EU when it comes to doing anything for Ukraine. Since Trump came to office, he reversed the Biden policy of handing Ukraine a black check when it came to cash-and-weapons. Trump wants a more measured approach, knowing Ukraine is currently under the gun but giving Zelensky every opportunity to make peace with Putin. Zelensky, so far, has refused to cede any land in a future peace settlement, making his case to Brussels to continue the war. Merz reflects that fact that Zelensky insists that if Ukraine loses the war, then Putin would be emboldened to take over more European territory. Zelensky has no facts or evidence that Putin’s long range plans are to seize more European territory. Merz operates under the false belief that Putin has the ulterior motive of seizing more European territory.
Brussels has backed Ukraine so far but falling short of committing to funding proxy war with the Kremlin. Merz talks about sending Taurus long-range missiles but he has no long range plan for what happens if Germany is pulled into the conflict. Zelenksy wanted to join NATO, something rejected by former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg said NATO was open in the future to Ukraine but not while it’s fighting a war with the Kremlin. NATO’s current Secretary-General Mark Ruffe generally accepts arming Ukraine to stop the Russian advance on Ukraine. Zelensky keeps pointing to Putin’s relentless drone-and-missile strikes as proof that Putin doesn’t want peace. But with Zelensky refusing to compromise on trading land-for-peace, there’s no end in sight to the Ukraine War. Both sides must compromise to see the war end.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
