Angela Merkel rules out mediator role in Russia-Europe talks

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has dismissed calls for her or her predecessor Gerhard Schröder to serve as mediators in negotiations between Russia and Europe over the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Hasepost reports.

Merkel said that her previous negotiations with Vladimir Putin had been tied to her political authority as head of government.

“During my time in office, together with the president of France, I mediated the 2015 Minsk agreements within the Normandy format. And I could never have imagined that someone would now ask me, ‘Would you like to do this and speak with Putin?’ I already did that while I was in office. Therefore, this mediation option should be ruled out,” she said.