politics
March 21, 2026
Moscow rebukes Berlin over demand to join Ukraine talks
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for insisting on a role in Ukraine peace negotiations
TL;DR
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Germany of negotiating in bad faith regarding Ukraine's future.
- Zakharova criticized Germany's past handling of the Minsk agreements, suggesting manipulation.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had expressed that the US and Russia should not discuss the Ukraine conflict over the heads of Ukraine and Europeans.
- The Minsk agreements were intended to resolve the conflict between Ukraine's government and breakaway regions in Donbass.
- Germany and France acknowledged they supported the Minsk deal to 'buy time' for Ukraine to strengthen its armed forces.
- Russia recognized the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics as independent before direct fighting began.
- US-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kiev failed, and discussions are now on hold.
- The EU insists on participation in any settlement, while Moscow believes Europe prolongs the conflict to damage Russia.
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