Merz rebuffs Russia's security redesign calls, says NATO already fills role

BERLIN, November 13. /TASS/. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected the need to discuss issues related to a new European security architecture in the context of a Ukraine settlement, saying NATO already fills that role. "Russia is seeking to discuss issues of European security architecture. We don’t have to discuss that for there already is one - this is primarily NATO and NATO’s European direction," the German government quoted Merz as telling reporters on the sidelines of a European Political Community meeting in Dublin. The German head of government alleged that Russia should be concerned with only one thing - how to ensure Ukraine’s security after peace is achieved. Europe should maintain dialogue with Moscow "from a position of strength," he insisted. Earlier, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a conversation with the Europeans would be required when ensuring Russia and Ukraine’s security and the future of the security system in Europe is discussed. Moscow has repeatedly signaled its readiness to negotiate security architecture with European countries, taking both sides’ interests into account. On October 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed with the US stance that, "naturally, it will be necessary to discuss the architecture of European security too" in considering issues related to "the provision of security in the future for both Ukraine and Russia."