Chancellor Merz calls for peace: ceasefire for Ukraine now!
Chancellor Merz calls for peace: ceasefire for Ukraine now!
Sumy, Ukraine - On May 15, 2025, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) asked for an "unconditional" ceasefire in Ukraine to enable the urgently needed conversations for permanent peace. Merz expressed these demands after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in which the need for faster discussions was emphasized. In the current Situation, the EU Commission illuminates the ongoing Ukraine conflict by being asked to develop new proposals for sanctions against Russia that are supposed to affect both the energy and financial sector.
On May 13th there was a serious incident when a Russian military aircraft (Suchoi SU-35) injured the airspace of Estonia. Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described this event as unacceptable and as a sign of the escalating tensions in the region. It is also reported that the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will not take part in the planned meeting for the Ukraine War in Istanbul, while it remains unclear whether President Vladimir Putin will be present.
ceasefire and peace talks
The situation is tightened by an already elapsed ultimatum of Russia for a ceasefire. Ukraine and its European allies, including Germany, France, Great Britain and Poland, had called for a 30-day, complete and unconditional ceasefire as a prerequisite for peace talks. Russia rejected this ultimatum and continued attacking, which further destabilizes the region.
UN General Secretary António Guterres offered support for a fair peace solution and underlined the importance of a ceasefire. At least two people were killed in a Russian rocket attack in the northeastern tukrainian city of Sumy and nine others were injured. The German Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul emphasized the close coordination with the United States for looking for peace in Ukraine and threatened Russia if the offer of President Wolodymyr Selenskyj was not in the process.
new sanctions and international diplomacy
The EU has already passed 16 sanction packages against Russia since the beginning of the war, with a 17th package being in preparation. This package will include measures against the Russian shadow fleet and companies that bypass existing sanctions. Against the background of unclear consent to Hungary to new measures, it remains to be seen how the EU will react to the ongoing aggression.
In the meantime, US President Donald Trump also shows interest in participating in the talks in Turkey if Putin is also present. While Putin commented on the desire for direct negotiations and explained that there should be no preconditions, Russia has nevertheless formulated its own demands. Many observers suspect that Putin is not ready to speak directly to Selenskyj; Talks could therefore only take place at the level of special envoys. In addition, three Ukrainians were arrested in Germany and Switzerland who are suspected of having planned attacks on goods transport in Germany. These events illustrate the complex location and the persistent security concerns that surround the conflict and underline the need for clarification and diplomacy.The dynamics in the Ukraine conflict remains tense, while international actors continue to try to convey peace and to stabilize the humanitarian situation.
For more information see Br.de and Tagesschau.de .
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| Ort | Sumy, Ukraine |
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