Merz expresses plan to end the war: First a ceasefire, then guarantees.

According to ТСН: The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, has expressed his views on the sequence of necessary steps to end the war in Ukraine and achieve peace.

In his statement, he elaborated:

“The order should be as follows: First a ceasefire, then - security guarantees for Ukraine within the framework of a long-term agreement with Russia.”

Merz emphasized that all these steps are only possible with Russia's consent, and that we are likely still quite far from that consent, in his estimation.

Russia's conditions for the ceasefire

At the end of December, the Kremlin established a condition for a ceasefire: This is only possible after the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia would only consider peace in the context of achieving its goals. He also refrained from commenting on the requirements regarding Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, saying it was inappropriate to discuss the details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the Kremlin’s stubbornness during negotiations with the USA could lead to serious consequences. He emphasized that the American administration is already discussing various options for resolution with Russia and highlighted that Ukraine's strong partners could react harshly to Russia's inflexibility if Moscow does not change its position.

The situation surrounding the peace negotiations is actively developing, and the further steps of the international community could significantly influence the course of events. It is important for all actors on the political stage to act responsibly, as this affects stability in the region and the overall security of Ukraine.