Philenews

Germany: 58% Support Merz-Putin Talks to End Ukraine War

Published February 12, 2026, 12:23
Germany: 58% Support Merz-Putin Talks to End Ukraine War

A new poll in Germany shows that 58% of Germans support direct talks between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Support is higher among voters of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and lower among supporters of the Left party. French President Emmanuel Macron has also called for direct talks with Putin, criticizing the failure of US mediation. Chancellor Merz expresses reservations, noting that previous visits to Moscow did not lead to de-escalation but to an intensification of bombings in Ukraine. However, he states that he is willing to support any talks aimed at ending the war, provided they are coordinated between Europeans, Ukraine and the United States.