“I think it's time to go further and transform the arms suspension at the beginning of peace negotiations. Now it really depends on Russia” Merz emphasized, appealing to the Kremlin for readiness for peaceful conversations and de -escalation of the conflict.
During the meeting in Brussels, the German Chancellor also referred to the issue of joint debt of the European Union. He noted that such a solution should be reserved only for unique situations, and not used as a permanent mechanism in response to prolonged crises. “I will not change the position of the German government on mutual debt. Although the world is in the face of more and more durable challenges, we cannot create a permanent mechanism of common debt in Europe on this basis. Although I realize that it will be a difficult debate, “he admitted.
Trump invited Merz
Merz also informed that he was invited by US President Donald Trump to Washington. The topic of planned talks is to be trade relations between the USA and the European Union, in particular the customs dispute. Merz reported that in a telephone conversation he congratulated Trump of the Commercial Agreement with Great Britain, while emphasizing that in the case of EU Member States it was the European Commission to conduct commercial negotiations on behalf of the entire community. “I got the impression that the president accepted it,” he noted.
The German chancellor also expressed the opinion that the escalation of the customs dispute is not in the interest of any of the parties. “It would be best if we went down to zero – for everyone and in everything,” he said. He added that it is increasingly visible in the USA about the negative effects of high duties on the economy, and Trump himself is aware of this. “So we will try to agree what we can do together,” said Merz.
