Germany, US urge Putin to enter peace talks or face consequences

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has warned that Russia will face consequences if it continues to block efforts towards peace in Ukraine, following high-level talks in Washington with his US counterpart Marco Rubio.

Speaking after his first official meeting with Rubio, Wadephul said both sides had agreed on the urgent need to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiations, Caliber.Az reports per German media.

“We are in full agreement that the killing in Ukraine must end immediately,” he said. “The Ukrainian side is prepared for a ceasefire — Russia is not. That must change.”

Wadephul stated that he and Rubio had resolved to coordinate their next steps closely, signalling a joint approach aimed at forcing Moscow to the negotiating table. “If Putin continues to refuse, action will follow. He should be prepared for that,” Wadephul said, in what amounts to one of the most direct warnings yet from Berlin since the start of his tenure.

Although the German minister stopped short of detailing specific measures, his comments come amid growing momentum in the US Senate for new sanctions against Russia. A legislative initiative led by Senator Lindsey Graham has already garnered the support of around 80 senators and would significantly increase economic pressure on Moscow.

Transatlantic alignment on Russia

Wadephul’s visit was in part intended to prepare for an upcoming trip to Washington by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. But with the conflict in Ukraine showing no sign of abating, the talks between Wadephul and Rubio shifted focus to the urgent need for renewed diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin.

“Even when Germany and the United States differ on some points, we stand on a common foundation,” Wadephul said. “Our partnership allows us to manage disagreements while pursuing shared goals — and the search for a sustainable peace in Ukraine is chief among them.”

Rubio, a Republican and former senator from Florida, has long taken a hard line on Russia, although he is now seen as a staunch ally of President Donald Trump. Trump, for his part, has recently adopted a more critical tone toward Putin, warning him against continued aggression and declaring that he was “playing with fire.”

Whether the Trump administration would back further sanctions remains uncertain. Still, Wadephul’s remarks suggest that at least at the ministerial level, coordination between Washington and Berlin is deepening in response to Russia’s intransigence.

No word on visa restrictions

The talks took place in a carefully managed setting without a joint press conference. Rubio did not take questions, and Wadephul fielded media queries alone following the meeting.

Asked whether he had raised concerns over new US entry restrictions, which could affect Germans following Rubio’s announcement targeting individuals involved in the censorship of Americans, Wadephul admitted the topic had not been addressed. “We didn’t discuss it,” he said. “I will look into it.”

Still, Wadephul struck a positive tone, noting that Rubio had hosted him on his birthday — a gesture he interpreted as a signal of commitment to the transatlantic alliance.

“But the message is clear,” Wadephul added. “Europe and America must stand together. If Putin continues to reject peace, there will be a response — and it will be coordinated.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev