Merz assessed the scale of the "first steps" towards a settlement in Ukraine

The process of a possible settlement of the conflict in Ukraine has begun, and it can be compared to the 200 m traveled on a 10 km path. This opinion was expressed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on March 23.

"We have taken the first steps. But let me give you an analogy: we are on a 10 km journey and may have passed the first 200 m," the Tagesschau portal quotes him as saying.

He added that the issue of conflict resolution requires patience and an understanding of the complexity of the task.

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On the same day, German political scientist Alexander Rahr said that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, with the possible participation of US President Donald Trump, could become a new important stage in the peace process in Ukraine.

The Guardian newspaper reported on August 21 that the American leader intends to temporarily move away from the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine in order to allow Moscow and Kiev to hold a bilateral meeting of the leaders of the countries.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.