Merkel says dialog on Ukrainian conflict resolution inevitable

Ukraine 's Western allies will have to start negotiations with Russia on the settlement of the conflict. This was stated by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel on November 23.

"I am sure that at a certain point, and now the people in charge have to determine that point, we will need a dialog. There will be no purely military solution," she emphasized in a conversation with The Sunday Times.

Merkel also noted that President-elect Donald Trump was right when he said that European countries spend too little on defense. She said Western leaders should listen to Trump's arguments and remain firm and consistent in building a relationship with him.

"Just remain firm. You don't have to act either too friendly or too tough - just stay who you are. You have to try to take the best advantage of the situation. And most importantly, don't be afraid," she concluded.

Earlier in the day, Merkel said that it was unacceptable that Kiev alone would make a decision on negotiations with Moscow. At the same time, she admitted that she is unable to predict when the negotiations on a peaceful settlement between the parties to the conflict will begin, because she is no longer engaged in politics.

Prior to that, on November 22, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitriy Medvedev, said that possible peace talks on the Ukrainian conflict were getting distant because the Ukrainian Armed Forces used long-range weapons against Russia. The deputy chairman of the Security Council emphasized that the conflict could have been ended much faster if it had not been for NATO's actions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin named the conditions for negotiations on Ukraine at a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry back in June. For example, the AFU should leave the territories of the new regions of the Russian Federation and Kiev should give up the idea of NATO integration.