Economist and diplomat Jeffrey Sachs has issued an urgent appeal to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, urging immediate diplomatic engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to prevent a wider war in Europe.

Sachs criticizes the German leadership for failing to pursue substantive dialogue with Russia despite prior calls to restore relations and recognize Russia as part of Europe.

Highlighting a series of historical missteps, Sachs notes Germany's role in NATO's eastward expansion, Merkel’s acknowledgment of Russia’s red lines, the abandonment of the February 2014 Kyiv agreement, the unfulfilled Minsk II commitments, the destruction of Nord Stream pipelines, and the blocking of a potential 2022 peace deal in Istanbul.

Sachs warns that continued military escalation, including drone strikes in Kyiv and Moscow and civilian attacks, risks dragging Europe further into conflict.Beyond security concerns, he emphasizes the economic fallout for Germany, including reliance on expensive U.S.gas, industrial decline, and misallocation of resources toward defense spending rather than digital and energy investments.

Sachs urges Chancellor Merz to prioritize diplomacy, reopen OSCE channels, halt attacks on civilians, and communicate the viability of a negotiated peace based on Ukrainian neutrality.Sachs frames this as Germany’s historic responsibility and a defining moment for European stability and economic recovery.