After Meretz's statement about "war criminal": Vladimir Putin threatens military escalation
The statement by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in which he described Vladimir Putin as a "war criminal," has provoked strong anger in the Kremlin. The Russian president, who has faced international condemnation since the start of his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, rejected Merz's words and considered them a failed attempt to hold him responsible for the ongoing war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated the same stance, asserting that Merz's statements are not worthy of serious consideration.
In an interview with Sat.1, Merz emphasized that war criminals should not be tolerated. He referred to the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Putin as evidence of Russia's responsibility for the alleged atrocities in Ukraine. For more than three and a half years, Kyiv has accused Moscow of committing thousands of war crimes, while Russia continues to justify its invasion under the name of a 'special military operation' to protect Russian-speaking populations.
During his four-day visit to China, Putin sent mixed messages. On one hand, he expressed his openness to peace talks, asserting that a political solution is possible if Kyiv and the West act with 'rationality'. On the other hand, he issued a veiled threat, warning that Russia would continue its military campaign if negotiations failed. These messages reflected Moscow's continued reliance on a mix of pressure and force to impose its terms.
At the same time, Putin made a surprising offer: a possible meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow. He explained that former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested organizing such talks during their recent summit in Alaska. Putin stated that he is open to the idea, but only if Zelensky comes to Moscow with guarantees for a positive outcome. This proposal raised international doubts, especially with the ongoing Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian territory.
Despite his threats, Putin tried to show some optimism, asserting that he sees "light at the end of the tunnel." He claimed that his forces are advancing on all fronts, while Ukraine struggles to maintain its momentum due to a lack of resources. At the same time, his ally Maria Zakharova mocked the German economic crisis, rejecting Merz's call to impose sanctions on Russia's trade partners. It seems that the Kremlin is currently determined to use a mix of intimidation, mockery, and conditional offers for dialogue to tighten its grip on the narrative of the war.