Candidate for Chancellor of Germany calls situation for Ukraine critical

Friedrich Merz, a candidate for the post of German chancellor from the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), said on 9 December that the situation on the contact line for Ukraine had become critical. He said this in an interview with the Bild newspaper.

As the interlocutor noted, the situation for Kiev is critical because the Russian army has consolidated its positions in the conflict zone.

He also said that US President-elect Donald Trump plans to seek direct contact with the Russian Federation with the mediation of France.

Last step: West says loan to Kiev agreed from profits from frozen Russian assets

US shifts responsibility for Ukraine to allies

Earlier in the day, German Chancellor candidate and CDU head Friedrich Merz arrived in Kiev on a visit. The politician's trip comes just a week after the official visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The day before, Trump said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (term expired May 20) would like to "make a deal" with Russia. According to him, it is necessary to immediately cease fire and start negotiations, otherwise the Ukrainian conflict could worsen.

On the same day, The New York Times reported that the meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the opening of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris demonstrated Kiev's willingness to make concessions on negotiations. It is specified that Ukraine saw an opportunity to get closer to the future US leader and convey to him its position in the conflict.

Commenting on this, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is open to talks on Ukraine and welcomes proposals from China, India, Brazil and other countries.

The last round of talks was held in Istanbul on March 29, 2022. Kiev later officially refused contacts with Moscow.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by the Russian president on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.