ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin made the following comments to senior news agency editors on the conflict between Iran and Israel and on whether he would be willing to speak to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. ASKED ABOUT ISRAELI REMARKS ABOUT POSSIBLE REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN:

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz successfully navigated a 40-minute meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office without falling victim to the public humiliation the American president has doled out to other leaders — even though both Germany and Europe are two of Trump’s perpetual irritants.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is ready to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Russian leader is also open to talking with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.