TASS45 minutes agoWorld2 min readRussia

Merz admits German government lacks support; multiple developments in Russia-Ukraine talks and global affairs

friedrich merz german government russia-us talks

Quick Look

Friedrich Merz acknowledged the previous German government was internally divided and lost momentum quickly, necessitating a power shift.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue between Russia and the US regarding Ukraine, with envoys meeting in Kiev and Moscow, air defenses intercepting drones, and discussions ongoing on energy, minerals, and potential trilateral talks involving China.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The article covers multiple developments following remarks by Friedrich Merz about the previous German government's internal divisions and loss of momentum. It includes ongoing diplomatic efforts between Russia and the US regarding the Ukraine conflict, military actions such as drone interceptions, energy discussions involving OPEC+ and the Strait of Hormuz, and various international reactions to the situation.

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Merz admits that German government lacks support

Friedrich Merz also recalled that the previous German government had been "divided from within and run out of steam so quickly" that a change of power had become necessary

Russians, Americans need to remember how much they got in common — former US congressman

It's important for Americans who serve the public, members of Congress, to go to Russia and to meet the people, Dennis Kucinich said

Date for new Russia-US contacts on removing ‘irritants’ being agreed upon — diplomat

Maria Zakharova added that Russia is ready to cooperate with the US partners "to move toward substantive discussions on the issues that are of priority for us"

First round of talks with US envoys ends in Kiev

According to Reuters, national security advisers to the British, French, and German leaders have arrived in Kiev to take part in the talks

Putin notes Russian troops’ success in special mil-op during talks with US negotiators

Yury Ushakov said that the Russian side provided clear and comprehensive assessments of the situation regarding the special military operation’s developments

FACTBOX: Novak’s statements about Power of Baikal, Russia’s fuel situation

Accoridng to the official, Russia and China are currently discussing the Power of Baikal gas pipeline project, formerly known as Power of Siberia 2, for Russian gas supplies to China

Putin orders three-day suspension of strikes on Kiev starting at midnight — Kremlin

The Ukrainian army would observe a ceasefire from midnight on September 5 through September 8

Trump continues to try to contribute to resolution of conflict in Ukraine — Putin

Russian President said that the discussion with the Americans will encompass all aspects of the conflict

Russia has over 25 years of supply of some types of strategic minerals

The strategy noted that the share of hard-to-recover reserves in the production of hydrocarbons, the development of which using existing technologies is unprofitable due to geological and technological factors, is growing

US negotiators tell Zelensky they want breakthrough in talks before winter — media

According to the sources, Witkoff and Kushner discussed with Zelensky preparations for continuing the war through the winter

Kushner refrains from saying is US will toughen pressure on Russia

According to US President’s son-in-law, Trump is looking at the Ukrainian conflict through the prism of the "idea of what the best outcome could be and what benefits all people"

Air defenses down 258 Ukrainian drones over Russia overnight — top brass

From 8:00 p.m. Moscow time on September 5 to 8:00 a.m. Moscow time on September 6, on-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 258 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones

OPEC+ nations agree to keep production quotas for October at September level

As follows from the OPEC table, Russia’s quota in October 2026 will stand at 9.949 mln barrels a day

Witkof says parties to Ukraine conflict need to make compromises

The US President's special envoy noted that Moscow and Kyiv need to narrow the differences between them in order to achieve a peaceful settlement

Putin notes at meeting with US negotiators that situation is difficult to discuss

"And we will have to deal with it today", Russian President said in his opening remarks

Trump wants some Moon object to be named after him

The US leader also admitted that he would never agree to go into space

Russian mission to UN responds to General Assembly on claims over Crimea’s status

Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Maria Zabolotskaya emphasized that these territories "are part of Russia, and have been part of Russia for centuries"

Ukraine, US, Europe agree to hold another meeting soon — Zelensky

According to Zelensky, US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have actually resumed the negotiating process after their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and today’s talks in Kiev

US envoys Witkoff, Kushner make stop in Poland’s Rzeszow en-route from Moscow to Kiev

The plane has landed at 1:31 a.m. local time

Daily oil transit via Strait of Hormuz amounts to around 9 mln barrels — US official

Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the United States is "winning the battle" over the strait despite opposition from Iran

US military budget ‘larger than of all other countries combined’ — Putin

Russian President attributed the enormous expenditures by the need to maintain numerous US military bases worldwide

US working on ‘peace package’ for Ukrainian settlement — Kushner

Many people in the United States government, under the President, Vice President, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and many others, are working to try to create it, the American leader's son-in-law noted

US should consider realities on ground in settlement of Ukraine conflict — Russian MFA

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov says the situation "is constantly changing, and not in Kiev’s favor"

Falsification of WWII Katyn massacre case by Nazis akin to Bucha false flag — historian

"The false flags that the Kiev regime is conducting today, such as the provocation in Bucha, when they planted dead bodies on purpose, brought in journalists and launched information propaganda, are very similar to what the Germans did in Katyn," Mikhail Myagkov noted

New trilateral meeting on Ukraine may be announced soon — Witkoff

According to US presidential envoy, the US delegation is "dug in on finding the solution" and there are all "the ingredients" to find it

Attempts by European states to fuel Ukraine conflict will backfire — former US congressman

Dennis Kucinich emphasized that "no amount of European support for the war will change the outcome"

US wants to work with Moscow, Kiev on ‘refreshed’ peace proposal — media

"Things may move in a good direction if there's a follow-up by all parties involved," the source told Axios

Russia’s Khachanov advances at 2026 US Open with straight-set win over French Bonzi

The Russian tennis player is now set to play in the next round against the winner of the duel between Learner Tien of the United States and Jakub Mensik from the Czech Republic

Trilateral meeting between leaders of Russia, US, China possible — Deputy Foreign Minister

The trilateral format with the participation of the leaders of Russia, China and the United States has not been practiced so far, Sergey Ryabkov stated in an interview with TASS

UN welcomes any efforts toward talks between Russia, Ukraine

Thus Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Farhan Haq commented on the visits by the US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kiev

Russian air defense forces down 4 aerial bombs, 400 Ukrainian drones over past 24 hours

In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that units of the Ukrainian military lost approximately 1,315 military personnel in the special military operation zone over the past 24 hours

Number of injured in chairlift collapse in Russia’s Nalchik climbs to eight

It was clarified that two of those injured had been discharged following a medical checkup

Belarus to hold Air Force and Air Defense drills with 2nd phase at Russian practice range

From August 25 to September 10, 2026, an operational exercise with the branches of the Air Force and Air Defense Troops will take place under the direction of Air Force and Air Defense Troops Deputy Commander Major General Mikhail Matrosov

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

Russia and the US will agree on a date for new contacts to remove irritants in their relationship
Likely · Within days
Another trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the US, and Europe will be announced soon
Very likely · Within days
OPEC+ nations will maintain current production quotas for October 2026 at September levels
Very likely · Within weeks

Open Questions

What specific internal divisions caused the previous German government to lose steam?
What are the exact terms being discussed in the Russia-US talks on Ukraine?
Will the proposed trilateral meeting between Russia, US, and China leaders materialize?
What is the status of the Power of Baikal gas pipeline negotiations between Russia and China?