"Sanctions will be tightened if Putin-Zelensky meeting does not take place" - Merz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that if a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky does not take place in the near future, “the ball will be back in the court of the Europeans and Americans,” threatening to tighten sanctions against Russia.

“We expect a meeting between Zelensky and Putin to take place within two weeks... If such a meeting does not take place, as agreed between Trump and Putin, then the ball will be back in our court, that is, in the court of the Europeans and Americans. In that case, we will consult again on this issue,” Merz said at a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.