German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned of a tougher stance toward Russia if Vladimir Putin does not respond positively to the call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
In an interview with the German newspaper BILD, he emphasized that the United States and President Donald Trump are showing increasing impatience with the Kremlin’s actions.
“We are calling for a 30-day ceasefire so that peace talks can be prepared during this time. Now the ball is in Putin’s court. Putin must respond to this proposal,” Merz stated.
He warned that if Russia refuses, the West will respond with strong measures.
“In the case of a refusal, there will be a serious tightening of sanctions and broad support for Ukraine – politically, financially, and militarily,” he stressed.
Merz added that the U.S. and President Trump fully support this approach and are running out of patience with Putin. According to him, there is currently exceptional alignment between European and American partners on this issue.
“If a ceasefire cannot be achieved, the U.S. will tighten sanctions against Russia. I see a certain agreement between the United States and Europe, as well as a general readiness within Europe to continue negotiations,” Merz said.
When asked if he would be willing to negotiate directly with Putin, Merz replied:
“If necessary, if it helps bring an end to this war, I’m ready to do a lot. But first, we have to see if we can reach the goal of a ceasefire after this weekend.”
