German Chancellor Merz now backs diplomacy with Russia to help end the Ukraine war, joining EU leaders pushing for dialogue.

Friedrich Merz, the chancellor of Germany, has changed his position and is now urging Europe to "find a balance" with its biggest neighbor, Russia. This change comes after leaders like Macron and Meloni, who support dialogue to end the conflict in Ukraine, have garnered increasing support from the EU. Russia stated that it was open to discussions based on mutual understanding, while the European Commission acknowledged that future negotiations with Putin might be required. The modification is part of a larger reevaluation of isolationist policies in the context of attempts to increase EU engagement in peace initiatives.