Germany's Merz says Russia-Ukraine talks 'fell short' of expectations

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz connected Saturday condemned Russia for continuing their attacks connected Ukraine "with undiminished ferocity,” adding that Russia-Ukraine truce talks had besides "fallen short" of expectations.

Speaking alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni successful Rome, Merz vowed to proceed to summation nan unit connected Moscow pinch added sanctions.

Merz and Meloni met for bilateral talks up of Sunday's inauguration of Pope Leo XIV successful nan Vatican.

Merz's remarks came a time aft nan first nonstop talks betwixt Moscow and Kyiv successful years grounded to output a ceasefire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had spurned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's connection to meet face-to-face successful Turkey aft he himself projected nonstop negotiations — though not astatine nan statesmanlike level — arsenic an replacement to a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, including nan US.

"Yesterday's talks successful Istanbul fell short of our expectations, contempt a maximally constructive cognition connected nan portion of nan Ukrainian negotiators," Merz said Saturday.

"At slightest nan delegations were capable to work together connected an speech of prisoners, but Russia has truthful acold refused to judge nan request for a broad and unconditional ceasefire.”

In Istanbul, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to speech 1,000 prisoners of warfare each, according to nan heads of some delegations, successful what would beryllium their biggest specified swap.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he plans to speak by telephone connected Monday pinch Putin, followed by Zelenskyy and leaders of various NATO countries, astir ending nan warfare successful Ukraine.

The 2 leaders besides said Europe is simply a agelong measurement from talking astir deploying troops successful Ukraine, saying efforts are presently focused connected securing an unconditional ceasefire.

"There is nary logic to talk astir (troops) astatine nan moment, we are acold from that. We want nan weapons to stop, nan sidesplitting to extremity — these are nan questions we are dedicated to now, and nary others," Merz said.

Gaza business 'increasingly dramatic'

Meloni said her discussions pinch Merz besides included nan Gaza crisis, arsenic Israel launched a awesome subject violative to unit Hamas to merchandise nan remaining hostages.

"We cannot stay indifferent to what is happening successful Gaza wherever nan business is progressively difficult, progressively dramatic," said Meloni.

Meloni has been among nan strongest supporters of Israel amid nan violative successful Gaza, but has precocious travel nether expanding unit astatine location to condemn their escalating subject campaign.

Earlier this week, Meloni urged Israel to respect world rule successful its subject cognition successful Gaza, calling nan humanitarian business location "unjustifiable".

Germany's Foreign Ministry besides expressed interest astir Israel' crushed violative connected Saturday, successful different important reside displacement from 1 of Israel's astir loyal allies.

More than 150 group had been killed successful Israeli strikes successful nan past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It said much than 3,000 person been killed since Israel collapsed a January ceasefire connected 18 March.