German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe would “decide for ourselves” who would represent the EU in talks with Moscow on Thursday.
The remarks serve as a rebuff to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s offer to negotiate with the EU if the bloc is represented by Gerhard Schröder, the pro-Kremlin former German chancellor.
“We Europeans decide for ourselves who speaks for us, no one else does,” Merz said at the awards ceremony for the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen 2026, according to German outlet DW.
Merz also said Europe would like to help end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine before criticizing Russia’s recent massive attacks on Ukraine between Wednesday and Thursday.
“We want to help bring this terrible war to an end as soon as possible. But the attacks of last night speak a different language,” he said, referring to Russia’s record drone strike consisting of over 1,400 drones within a 24-hour window.
Merz added that Moscow also needs to show a willingness to negotiate.
“The will to negotiate requires willingness to negotiate on both sides,” he added.
Potential talks between EU, Russia
On May 8, European Council President António Costa said the EU sees “potential” for future talks with Putin. After that, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin was “ready for talks with everyone” but expects the EU to initiate the talks.
Asked on Saturday who he would like to help restart talks with Europe, Putin said he would “personally” prefer Schroeder, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005 and has remained close to the Kremlin leader long after leaving office.
Schröder has long faced criticism in Europe over his work with Russian energy companies and his close relationship with Putin.
Berlin said it had “taken note” of Putin’s offer earlier, while Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, rebuffed the offer by calling Schröder a “high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies.”
“If we give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf, that would not be very wise,” Kallas said.
Kallas also said the EU is not yet ready for direct talks with Russia because member states first need to coordinate a common position.