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Merz Says Putin Was Wrong to Skip Peace Talks, Confirms New Sanctions Are Ready

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Amira Barkhush
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Merz Says Putin Was Wrong to Skip Peace Talks, Confirms New Sanctions Are Ready
Friedrich Merz, future federal chancellor and Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union, speaks during the “Federal Committee – Bundesausschuss CDU” at ESTRELL Hotel in Berlin, Germany, on April 28, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Russian leader Vladimir Putin is in the wrong for refusing to attend peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. Merz also announced that a new round of sanctions against Russia will be adopted in Brussels on May 20.

In contrast, the Chancellor praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to travel to Türkiye, calling it “a major step forward.”

“The fact that President Zelenskyy still traveled to Türkiye is a major step forward. Putin’s absence, on the other hand, places the blame squarely on him,” Merz wrote on X on May 15. “The new sanctions package [against Russia] is ready. We will finalize it on Tuesday in Brussels.”

The 17th package of European Union sanctions against Russia, in response to its full-scale war on Ukraine, was approved at the ambassadorial level on May 14.

The new measures target 189 vessels from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet , including oil tankers. The package also imposes restrictions on roughly 30 companies involved in circumventing existing sanctions, particularly those related to dual-use goods. Additionally, sanctions were expanded to cover 75 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s defense-industrial sector.

Putin, who had proposed holding direct talks in Istanbul, ultimately did not attend. Instead, he sent a delegation led by his aide Vladimir Medinsky.

During the same day, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Putin of “dragging his feet” and obstructing a potential ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

On May 16, the Ukrainian delegation is scheduled to hold its first direct negotiations with Russian officials since 2022, with Turkish representatives in attendance.

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The shadow fleet are vessels with obscure ownership structures meant to conceal their transportation of sanctioned Russian oil and wet cargo since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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