Germany alleges Russia not moving to 'negotiating mode' on Ukraine

Germany on Wednesday expressed doubt Russia was seeking a negotiated end to the Ukraine war after US President Donald Trump's envoys left the Kremlin with no breakthrough on a peace deal.

"We welcome all talks aimed at ending Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine," the foreign ministry posted on X. "However, we do not currently see any signs that Russia is shifting into negotiating mode."

Russian leader Vladimir Putin's talks with the US envoys ended in the early hours of Wednesday, with neither side announcing concrete progress.

The Kremlin insisted Russia was still committed to diplomacy -- despite Putin issuing a stark warning that Moscow was "ready" to fight Europe if it wanted war.

German government spokesman Steffen Meyer on Wednesday brushed off Putin's "aggressive rhetoric" as "nothing really new, in our view".

"It is not without irony, because... we in Europe live together peacefully. Our entire constitution is geared towards this," Meyer told a regular government press conference.

"The country that is bombing civilians every day, every night, that has invaded another country... that is Russia," he said.

The foreign ministry reiterated Germany's support for Ukraine and its backing for EU plans to use Russian assets to fund a loan for Ukraine.

"We are in a position to support them in the long term," said the ministry. "This is demonstrated by our continued efforts at European level to make use of frozen Russian assets."