An ultimatum from Europe has been delivered to Putin

“This is something new, I believe, in that this process is now gaining new momentum in Europe,” said today the spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Stefan Kornelius.

He stated that what is new is that European countries are taking over and continuing the negotiation process that was previously mostly led by the United States, and that they are doing so “in close coordination with the United States.”

Kornelius said that European leaders will continue discussions on their approach to potential peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia at the G7 summit in the French city of Evian and during the European Council summit in Brussels next week.

“We need the broadest possible support from all European partners in order to truly strive for peace,” he said.

Kornelius said that it “could take several weeks or even months” to bring Putin to the negotiating table, and that “only a strong Ukraine and pressure on Russia will convince Putin to step back.”

He stressed that Europe must be prepared for that moment.

“We also need to establish readiness for dialogue and agree on the conditions under which such talks could even take place. All of this is part of the preparations,” Kornelius concluded.