Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the upcoming G20 summit, according to the Kremlin. While Merz has not ruled out a personal meeting during the December event in Miami, it remains unclear whether Putin will actually attend. Any potential discussion would mark the first direct contact between the two leaders since Merz assumed office.
Merz open to talks with Putin
Speaking to the regional newspaper Westfalenpost, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was not opposed to potentially meeting Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Merz emphasized that part of politics is engaging in dialogue even with those who hold completely different views.
Merz also stressed that talking does not imply agreement with the other side’s positions. In diplomatic relations, communication can be particularly important when a conflict has broad security implications for Europe, he said.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Merz’s statements by confirming that Putin is open to contact with European leaders, including the German Chancellor.
“Putin has always said and still says that he is open to contact with anyone, including Europeans,” Peskov stated.
Putin’s attendance at G20 not yet confirmed
A meeting between Merz and Putin depends primarily on whether the Russian president will travel to the United States. The G20 summit is scheduled for December in Miami and the U.S. administration has extended an invitation to the Russian leader.
The Kremlin has yet to confirm who will represent Russia at the event. Peskov cautioned that it is premature to discuss Putin’s participation and that no decision has been made.
If Putin does travel to Miami, a face-to-face meeting with Merz would represent a significant diplomatic moment. Since Merz became chancellor, the two leaders have neither met in person nor spoken by phone.
Germany ties talks to specific objectives
At the same time, Berlin stresses that any contact with Moscow must serve a clear purpose. Government spokesperson Steffen Meyer said that while the Chancellor is fundamentally open to negotiations, a conversation without a concrete aim would yield no results.
According to Meyer, the German government currently sees no sign that Russia is genuinely prepared to negotiate a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Merz therefore does not want a potential meeting to become just a formal diplomatic gesture with no substantive content. If talks do occur, Berlin believes they should focus on issues where real progress is possible.
Ukraine’s participation cannot be excluded
One of the most sensitive issues remains Ukraine’s participation in any talks between Russia and Western countries. Merz has previously stated that if the future of Ukraine is to be discussed at the G20, Kyiv must have a seat at the table.
The German Chancellor rejects the idea of other states deciding Ukraine’s fate without its involvement. He also insists that if Ukraine takes part in these discussions, Europe must be able to defend its interests.
This stance is tied to concerns among European countries that any agreement between Washington and Moscow could affect the security landscape of the continent. European states therefore insist on being part of the diplomatic process.
Abu Dhabi talks may open new diplomatic channels
The developments around a possible Merz-Putin meeting come amid renewed negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. On November 10 and 11, representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States met in Abu Dhabi.
The German government later reported that a broader consensus was reached on basic principles for future talks. According to Berlin, these guidelines were also communicated to the Russian president. The government spokesperson said further meetings might follow on this basis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope ahead of the talks that lower-level diplomatic contacts would lay the groundwork for a meeting of top leaders.
More on Kyiv’s expectations can be found in our previous article about a possible Zelensky-Putin meeting.
A Merz-Putin meeting would send a major signal
If Putin decides to travel to Miami and Merz meets him, it would mark an important turning point in relations between Moscow and Berlin. Germany is one of Ukraine’s most significant supporters in Europe, and Merz has repeatedly stressed that Russia must demonstrate a genuine willingness to end the war.
However, the meeting itself would not mean a shift in Germany’s policy towards Moscow or an automatic step towards a peace agreement. The decisive factor will be whether concrete issues such as a ceasefire, security guarantees, and future relations between Russia and Ukraine can be addressed.
For now, two fundamental questions remain open: whether Putin will attend the G20 summit, and whether any talks with Merz would amount to more than just a symbolic resumption of direct contact.
SEE ALSO
- Zelensky hopes for meeting with Putin. Abu Dhabi talks could pave the way for peace
- US invites Putin to G20 in Miami. Partial ceasefire also on the table
- Zelensky urges Europe to appoint a Russian negotiator by November
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
