erman Chancellor Friedrich Merz asserted today that any peace plan for Ukraine must have European approval, adding that Russia must join the negotiations, according to Agence France-Presse.

Merz made these remarks on the sidelines of a European Union-African summit in Luanda.

"It is important for us that a peace plan in Ukraine is not reached without our agreement on issues affecting European interests and European sovereignty,” he said, ruling out an agreement this week, and stating that Russia must “join the negotiations.”