German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly stated his readiness to personally speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the upcoming G20 summit in Miami this December. The statement was made during a public dialogue with citizens in Hagen, where a journalist directly asked the chancellor whether his meeting with the Russian leader could take place in December. Merz replied that he has no intention of avoiding such an opportunity, emphasizing that contact with Putin is not a taboo for him if circumstances permit.
Statement in Hagen: Reaction to a Direct Question
During the meeting with residents of Hagen, Merz was asked about the prospects of bilateral contact with Moscow ahead of the upcoming summit. The chancellor did not refuse to discuss the topic and directly stated that he will not shy away from the opportunity to speak with Putin if he appears at the G20 venue. According to him, the question of the Russian president's participation remains open: at the time of Merz's speech, the Kremlin leader had not given official consent to travel to the United States.
Conditions for a Possible Meeting: The Host's Prerogative
Justifying his position, Merz referred to the invitation procedure: the host country of the summit always has the right to invite additional heads of state and government. The chancellor noted that, as far as Berlin is aware at present, US President Donald Trump has sent an invitation to Putin for the G20. 'If he is there, I will not shy away from the opportunity to hold a conversation with him,' Merz said, emphasizing that he is ready for a talk but does not intend to artificially create it in the absence of the Russian leader himself.
Berlin's Position on the Ukrainian Issue
Earlier, Merz outlined the conditions under which, in his view, discussions on the sidelines of the G20 should involve Kyiv: the chancellor advocated for the inclusion of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in negotiations if the topic of the Ukrainian conflict is raised at the summit. He insisted that such issues cannot be resolved without representatives of Ukraine and European countries, and urged using all available diplomatic channels to achieve a peace agreement. Thus, Merz combines his readiness to talk with Putin with the demand that all key parties to the conflict be present.
Context: G20 Summit and Diplomatic Background
The G20 summit is scheduled for December 14–15 in Miami, USA. According to available data, Moscow has not yet announced whether Putin will travel to the United States, so the very possibility of a personal meeting between Merz and the Russian president remains conditional and depends on the Kremlin's decision. Against the backdrop of these statements, it is noted that contacts between the diplomatic departments of Russia and Germany have already resumed, creating an institutional background for potential bilateral contacts on the sidelines of the summit.
