MOSCOW, June 7. /TASS/. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is persistently trying to convince US President Donald Trump to resume escalating the conflict around Ukraine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS.

"Brussels strategists are continuing their attempts to convince US President Donald Trump to return to the policy pursued by his predecessor (Joe Biden - TASS). That policy involved unconditional support for Ukraine and further escalation," he said.

The deputy minister emphasized that it is through this prism that the Russian side "perceives the statements and actions of the German chancellor, including his words about lifting restrictions on missile strikes by the Ukrainian military against Russia." "This is one of the actions deliberately aimed at undermining the aspirations of those seeking a political settlement," Ryabkov added.