German chancellor in Kyiv calls on Putin to "stop this senseless war"

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is visiting Kyiv, has called on Russian ruler Vladimir Putin to stop attacks on Ukraine and demonstrate a readiness to negotiate.

Source: German news agency dpa, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Merz, accompanied by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visited the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, which had been damaged in a drone strike.

During Merz's visit, air-raid warnings were issued several times due to Russian attacks, while the Pivnichnyi (North) Bridge had been damaged earlier that morning.

Quote from Merz: "Mr Putin, stop this senseless war! We are ready for talks, we are ready to speak with one another about ending this war. But these barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop."

Details: Standing near the damaged National Academy of Sciences building, the chancellor said that attacks such as the one that took place last Monday clearly demonstrate the senselessness of the war.

"An attack on the Academy of Sciences in Kyiv, in the middle of the city, just a few hundred metres from the German embassy. And this morning, on a peaceful Sunday, an air-raid alarm in Kyiv. These are daily war crimes being committed here," he noted.

Merz said that while Ukraine is preparing for winter, its infrastructure is being attacked every day.

"I appeal once again to the Russian leadership, to the Russian president: Stop this war! We can talk, but only when the weapons fall silent – and the weapons must fall silent," he said. [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president – ed.]

Background:

• According to dpa sources, Merz intends to make commitments to Ukraine regarding further financial and military support, including the supply of thousands of interceptor drones and the acceleration of long-range weapons production.
• Meanwhile, Zelenskyy announced "important agreements" between Ukraine and Germany on strengthening defence.

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