Location at a glance: Putin open for conversation with Merz – Warning to Germany

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has agreed to talk to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) – if he was looking for contact with him. “We are always open to this,” Putin in St. Petersburg replied to a question from the German Press Agency. At the same time, the Kremlin chief warned of a “very serious damage” for relationships between Russia and Germany if the federal government should deliver the Taurus marching mission to Ukraine.

As every year at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (Spief), Putin met with representatives of international news agencies, including the dpa. Even with this question and answer session – according to the state agency Tass, it was the ninth of this kind – he once again commented on a variety of topics. An overview:

Germany I: First statement on Merz

Putin publicly commented on Merz for the first time since he was elected Chancellor in May. Merz has so far had no contact with Putin since taking office, but repeatedly asked the Kremlin chief in speeches and also when visiting Kiev for a ceasefire in the Russian attack war against Ukraine – without success. The CDU chairman is held in Moscow that he is at confrontation with Russia. German-Russian relationships are at a low point.

Putin also wanted to know nothing about Germany as an intermediary in the Ukraine War. From the Russian perspective, the Federal Republic is not neutral. Germany is on the side of Ukraine, deliver tanks and are involved in the fighting, Putin argued. “Not only in Ukraine, but also in Kursk – in the Russian field – German technology was deployed.”

Germany II: Warning of Taurus delivery to Ukraine

When asked about the March missile Taurus, Putin warned of a war participation in Germany if the federal government should enable Ukrainians to use the weapon. “Only German officers can steer the Taurus. What does that mean? That soldiers of the Bundeswehr lead to German weapons with German weapons against Russia’s territory.” However, the Taurus is also part of the Arsenal in the armies of Sweden and Spain, without German soldiers being involved.

According to Putin’s words, the marching missile had no influence on the course of the war itself because the Russian army had the initiative on the entire front line. “The Russian troops have strategic advantages in all directions. Our armed forces attack the entire front.” In fact, the Russian troops are moving in eastern Ukraine, but small terrain gains are often bought with high losses.

Ukraine I: Conditions for meetings with Selenskyj

Once again Putin provided conditions for a meeting with the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, which cannot be met for Kiev. “I am ready to meet everyone – including Selenskyj,” said the Kremlin chief. The question for Russia is who signed a peace agreement – with which he showed that Selenskyj had to be discontinued.

Putin again doubted that the Ukrainian president was entitled to sign a peace agreement because his five -year term of office had expired. The Ukrainian leadership has made it clear that no elections may be held due to the law and Selenskyj still has all power powers. Conversely, Putin is accused of making the political opposition in the country with the help of his authoritarian power parameter.

Ukraine II: Next round of talks after June 22nd

Putin announced that the discussions held twice in Istanbul in Istanbul with the Turkish government should continue after June 22nd. The meetings would have brought results in humanitarian questions, including the exchange of prisoners and dead soldiers.

The Kremlin chief reacted irritably when asked how his leadership could condemn Israeli air strikes to Iranian cities, while Russia’s military himself killed many people on air strikes on Ukraine. “If their journalists had seen how our rockets allegedly destroy entire residential areas, they could hardly have told about it. They would not have survived.” Russia only attacks military goals and armaments factories, Putin claimed.

In contrast, the devastating damage to civil infrastructure in Ukraine and the high number of civilians killed are in almost three and a half years of war. It was only on the night of Tuesday that at least 28 civilians were killed in a Russian air raid on Kiev, including 23 residents of a high -rise building alone.

NATO: Russia is not worried about armaments

According to Putin’s words, Russia is not afraid of an armaments race with NATO. Moscow perfect his armed forces. “Whatever NATO does, of course, that creates certain threats, but we are brushing back the threats that will arise.”

The planned increase in defense spending in the NATO countries to five percent of gross domestic product (GDP) is pointless because Russia will already ensure its security. Putin called a lie that Russia is preparing to attack NATO countries. In contrast, intelligence services and specialist politicians repeatedly warn that the conquest plans of the Kremlin beyond Ukraine and Russia will be able to attack NATO by 2029.

Iran: Moscow could secure peaceful use of nuclear power

Russia also offers to secure the peaceful use of nuclear power by Iran, Putin said. This is how Israel should be feared of nuclear arming of the arch enemy. He proposed this “possible way out” Israel and the United States, but the decision was with the governments in Jerusalem and Tehran. In his own words, Putin does not expect a fall of Iranian leadership due to the Israeli air strikes. “Society is having a political leadership.”

Family: Putin has a granddaughter

The Kremlin boss rarely talks about his family. Therefore, it was an important news for the Russian media that Putin mentioned a granddaughter for the first time. “When I talked about the fact that some people close to me, relatives, learn Chinese, I spoke of my granddaughter, who has an educator from Beijing and speaks to her fluently in Chinese,” he said. He mentioned earlier that Putin is a two -time grandfather, but without name the name, age or gender of the grandchildren.

The question and answer session with the news agencies on the first day of the economic forum took place this time in the renovated conservatory of St. Petersburg. Russia uses the forum to present itself to the world and to defy the international isolation sought by the West. 20,000 participants from 140 countries are expected by Saturday.