The new German chancellor, Friedrich MerzHe said he believed that a 30 -day fire agreement in Ukraine is about to be reached and could happen in the next few days, but “the ball is now exclusively in the Moscow field.”
“Now we have a great opportunity, after this day, which is celebrated in Russia as Victory Day, for a high fire in Ukraine,” Merz said along with the president of the European Parliament, Roberta MetsolaOn his first trip to Brussels, Friday.
Merz reiterated the same conviction at a press conference with the secretary general of NATO, Mark Rutteat the headquarters of the pact.
“There is the possibility that, during this weekend, if it reaches a high 30 -day fire in Ukraine,” said Merz. “Ukraine agrees with the idea. The United States began the process and suggested it, the main European states explicitly agreed with it. I can say that this is a positive measure for the entire European Union and NATO,” he added.
“After the next weekend and early next week, we will know if the top fire of long -range weapons will be made, thus creating space for a dialogue for lasting peace in Ukraine.”
“This is a very precise and direct evidence to the seriousness of the Russian president to achieve peace in Ukraine,” Merz concluded.
In March, Ukraine accepted the immediate fire of 30 days proposed by US mediators in Saudi Arabia.
“Ukraine has expressed its willingness to accept the United States proposal to decree a high immediate and provisional fire of 30 days, which can be extended by a mutual agreement between the parties, and that is subject to the simultaneous acceptance and implementation of the Russian Federation,” says the joint declaration of the United States and Ukraine, published after the conversations in Jeddah.
But Russia has resisted accepting this agreement by issuing, on the other hand, a list of high -rank requirements that, they said, must be met before accepting.
These include the prohibition of Ukraine to use the high fire to regroup and remedy their forces and the obligation of the West to suspend the supply of weapons to kyiv.
Russia unilaterally announced two short periods of high fire: one during Easter and another during the victory parade on May 9, but both times Kremlin violated his own truce and continuous air attacks against Ukraine.
Merz believes in Trump’s plan
Merz said that Europe supports the high -fire plan of the president of the United States, Donald Trumpand that both the EU and the United States are willing to impose more sanctions on Moscow to press the country to sign an agreement. He also said that Brussels and Washington will continue to support Ukraine, increasing their support if necessary.
“Russia has to put on the path of real peace negotiations,” the German chancellor told the joint press conference with Roberta Metsola. “If this does not happen, we will not hesitate, together with our European partners and the United States, to increase the pressure of sanctions.”
In this visit to Brussels, on the occasion of Europe, Merz also held conversations with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenand with the president of the European Council, António Costa.
