German chancellor: Russia in “state of utter barbarism”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has described the situation in Russia as a “state of utter barbarism” and said he sees little prospect of peace talks with Moscow in the near future.

In an interview with the German newspaper Rheinpfalz, Merz argued that the war would likely end only when one of the two sides is exhausted, either militarily or economically. He said reason and humanitarian appeals would not persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to change course, calling that assessment a bitter truth.

Merz said the European Union’s objective is to ensure that the Russian state can no longer sustain the war effort, either militarily or economically. He added that Russia’s leadership appears intent on keeping its military apparatus running, partly because it lacks a plan for reintegrating the hundreds of thousands of soldiers expected to return from the front lines.

The chancellor suggested that Russia’s immediate trajectory is unlikely to change, underscoring Berlin’s view that sustained pressure on Moscow remains necessary.

By Sabina Mammadli