Merz: EU ready to talk with Russia, but will not hold 'parallel' talks

The European Union is always ready to hold talks with Russia in an effort to end the war in Ukraine, but will not open any parallel channels of communication, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today, according to Reuters.

"We are, of course, always ready to hold talks with Russia," he told reporters in Abu Dhabi.

"Currently, coordinated talks are taking place here in Abu Dhabi... if we can contribute to making these talks even better, even more successful, then we will do so. But we will not open any parallel channels of communication," Merz stressed.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Abu Dhabi, Merz said the French presidential envoy's visit to Moscow earlier this week had been closely coordinated with Germany.

"We have been discussing this for some time. Of course, we are always ready to hold talks with Russia," Merz said, underlining that US-led talks between Russia and Ukraine were the main negotiating path.

"If we can contribute to the success of these talks, we will. But we will not open parallel channels of communication," the chancellor said.

"We all have one goal: to see this war against Ukraine end as soon as possible, and the key to that lies with Moscow, and we will continue to support Ukraine," he added. 

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