Meraz said he would not shy away from possible contact with Putin at the G20 summit.
"In politics you also have to talk to people who have completely different views than yours," the German chancellor said during a public dialogue organized by the Westfalenpost newspaper.
When asked about the possibility of establishing such a relationship in December, Friedrich Mertz replied in the affirmative, but without committing to holding a meeting.
"If he is there, I will not shy away from the opportunity to speak," the chancellor said.
He added that US President Donald Trump invited Vladimir Putin to the summit, but the Russian leader has not yet confirmed his participation.
The summit will take place on December 14-15 at the Trump Doral National in Miami.
Earlier, the Russian President's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that the question of Putin's possible trip to the G20 summit is still premature.