
Merkel urges EU to use diplomacy with Russia alongside military support
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the EU should do more to leverage its diplomatic clout to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, arguing that military support must be complemented by a unified EU diplomatic effort. She noted her 2021 proposal for an EU–Russia talks format was blocked by bloc divisions and emphasized that credible negotiators must hold real political power. German Chancellor Merz said an EU-wide envoy isn’t planned for now and discussions are ongoing, with no official request having been made to Merkel about taking on such a role in the Minsk context.



