German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees a possible connection between the most recent Russian attacks on Ukraine and a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump. This was stated by government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius on Friday, referring to internal assessments, according to Tagesschau, as reported by G.Business.
“The Chancellor has repeatedly pointed out that there appears to be a pattern in Russia’s attacks, which often coincide with direct contacts between Putin and foreign leaders,” Kornelius said.
As an example, he cited the overnight missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities that occurred immediately after the July 3rd call between Putin and Trump.
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the attacks targeted several regions, including Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa. Ukrainian authorities report multiple fatalities and dozens of injuries. Although air defenses were active, several infrastructure facilities were hit.
Kornelius added that the German government is carefully monitoring the sequence of events.
“We are observing the developments very closely and evaluating both public and classified intelligence,” he said.
“There appears to be a possible link that must be investigated.”
The phone call between Putin and Trump was confirmed by multiple international media outlets on July 3. According to Russian state agencies, Putin reiterated his position on the ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. Following the call, Trump reportedly expressed disappointment, telling American media that “Putin clearly shows no interest in ending the war.”
When asked whether the German government is planning a response to the suspected escalation, Kornelius said consultations were underway with EU partners.
“A consistent sanctions policy remains necessary, though individual measures are currently under review,” he stated. No official response has been issued yet by Russian authorities or Trump’s team regarding the contents of the call.
Bleiben Sie informiert! Lesen Sie auch: Selenskyj Über Den EU-Gipfel: Gute Entscheidungen Zur Unterstützung Der Ukraine Und Zum Druck Auf Russland
Foto: Getty Images