MOSCOW/BERLIN – The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to possible contact with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was responding to comments from Chancellor Merz, who said he would not rule out meeting Putin at the G20 summit in Miami. However, no decision has been made yet regarding Putin’s participation in the summit.
What the Kremlin spokesperson said
According to Peskov, President Putin is open to dialogue with European leaders, including Merz. The statement was general in nature and does not confirm any specific date, meeting, or negotiation agenda.
Merz does not rule out face-to-face meeting
In an interview with Westfalenpost, the German Chancellor suggested that if both leaders are present at the same G20 event, he might address Putin. However, he stressed that this does not amount to an agreement on a formal diplomatic visit.
War in Ukraine remains a key issue
Direct dialogue between European leaders and the Kremlin has become politically sensitive since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While some politicians advocate for a cautious renewal of contacts, others stress the importance of coordination with Kyiv.
Recent contacts already held
According to reports from late October, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre both held phone calls with President Putin. Both Finland and Norway described the talks as matter-of-fact but said there was no immediate breakthrough in the war.
What happens next
Any potential high-level meeting will depend on further statements from both sides. As of now, there is no confirmed date or agenda for a Putin–Merz meeting.
For more information, see coverage from Aktualizovane.sk, previous discussions on informants, Tuesday’s voting, the European dispute over Ukraine funding, and the proposal for a European negotiator. You can join the discussion on the Aktualizovane.sk page at Stretnisa.online or in our community.
Sources: TASR, TASS, Westfalenpost, November 11, 2026
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
