Is Selenskyj Putin stuck to Istanbul? The situation in the morning

Good morning, dear readers,

Last week hit Vladimir Putin Before this Thursday, “serious negotiations” to run over the end of the war in Ukraine, preferably in the Turkish capital Ankara. That sounded reasonable. In the end, the laurels should collect Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj. He announced that Putin personally expected Putin and brought the Kreml ruler into the bredouille. Is Moscow responding to it? Even Selenskyj doubts about it.

It has been forever that Selenskyj and Putin have seen each other personally. In 2019 that was, in the Élysée Palace, it was about a solution in the eastern Ukraine conflict. Today the Ukrainian head of state struggles for a solution for his entire country. A 30-day ceasefire should be a start. Selenskyj remains realistic: “We can use him (Putin, editor’s note) do not immediately agree on everything. (…) But somehow we have to find a format for the end of the war, “he said in a negotiations before the planned negotiations.

Selenskyj does not make any illusions that he could face to face to face the Russian head of state. He “does not really believe that Putin is personally capable of meeting,” he said and continued: “It seems to me that he is afraid.”

Letting the enemy stand as small and stupid as possible are apparently Selenskyj’s strategy. There is also not much other: the demands for a ceasefire largely ignores the Kremlin – whether they come from Ukraine or from their European allies.

Before negotiations in Turkey, however, he cannot avoid, after all, they were his idea. Putin may send a team of deputy to Istanbul. Maybe his Foreign Minister Sergei Lawrow. However, his dilemma does not solve this: if the Russian head of state comes personally if he were the one driven by Kiev. If he does not come, at least for Selenskyj, he is an unforgettable war ruler: “If he doesn’t arrive, it means that he does not want a political victory – by the way, none of the companies.”

Great day for Friedrich Merz: Today his first government declaration is pending. In all likelihood, the Chancellor will devote himself to a large election campaign topic of the Union – the economy. Merz wants to make Germany competitive again.

There was already a foretaste last night at the CDU economic day: “We have to work more and, above all, more efficiently in this country,” emphasized Merz. If you still had residual hopes for a four-day week and work-life balance, you can say goodbye to it at the latest. Merz gave both a cancellation, with the argument that the prosperity of Germany cannot be preserved. And the 40-hour week is now anchored in the coalition agreement.

Otherwise, the Chancellor will present the cornerstones today that the new government has to tackle immediately. When it comes to foreign policy, Merz has already shown what he can do: he telephoned with Donald Trump and was also known to the Ukraine talks with France and Great Britain. Merz strategy is obvious: Germany return a leadership role on the global political parquet. When it comes to migration policy, Merz showed that as a chancellor he is on his promise.

You can hear what else is to be expected in the “5-minute talk”. My colleagues Veit Medick and Jan Roskranz have their first guest today:

Would you flirt with Markus Söder if he saw next to you? Cathy Hummels, ex-player woman, used the favor of the hour last night. In her first edition “Cathy’s Stammtisch” she placed the Bavarian Prime Minister next to her. She easily took her job as a presenter and gave Söder the Go to tell about herself, about vegans, the Greens and women (you don’t have to listen completely, you just know whether you have to say “yes” or “no”).

At some point Hummels wanted to know where Söder’s first kiss had taken place (in the subway). And then the flirt began: Hummels asked if Söder preferred to go to Hawaii or to the Tegernsee in the bikini. He sipped on the beer, she commented: “Do you have to drown me nicely?” Söder: “I’m not from sugar, I’m just cute.” Then he claimed not to have passions as a politician. Cathy countered: “I’ll sit next to you.” Hummels praised the Essen posts and the politician’s beard growth as “male”.

In the end it was probably too narrow. He ended the talk in his direct way: “I would say we are through.”

Come healthy and safe through this Wednesday!

Christine Leitner
(News editor)