German Chancellor dismisses hopes for swift negotiated end to Russia-Ukraine war
Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Getty Images)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees almost no chance of a quick end to Russia's war against Ukraine through negotiations, Spiegel reports.
Merz believes that the war will only end when one of the two sides is exhausted, either militarily or economically.
According to the German Chancellor, rational and humanitarian arguments will not convince Vladimir Putin.
Therefore, according to the Chancellor, the goal of European efforts is to prevent Russia from continuing the war militarily and financing it economically.
Merz says he considers it practically impossible to restore normal relations with Putin.
"When I look at this regime and this blind, fierce terror, I have little hope," he says.
He also believes that the Russian ruling clique cannot do without war in the near future.
"They have to maintain the military machine because they have no plan for what to do with the hundreds of thousands of soldiers, some of whom are seriously injured, who are returning from the front," the Chancellor says.
Merz also mentions the American-French historian Astolphe de Custine, who, after extensive travels in Russia in the 19th century, said that Russia was the most remarkable country for the observer then, because in it one could find both the deepest barbarism and the highest civilization.
The German Chancellor stresses that this is still relevant today.
"Right now, we see this country in a state of profound barbarism. This will not change in the near future, and we must accept it," he concludes.
Negotiations in Geneva
On February 17-18, the third round of trilateral negotiations between delegations from Ukraine, the US, and Russia on ending the war took place in Geneva, Switzerland.
The results of this meeting were mixed.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussions on political issues were extremely difficult, although all three sides demonstrated a constructive approach on military issues.
Despite some optimism on security issues, Axios reports that the political part of the negotiations has effectively reached an impasse.
At the same time, the White House gives a more positive assessment of the results of the meeting, noting that Ukraine and Russia have made significant progress during the negotiation process in Geneva.
For more details on the course of the negotiations and their results, read the RBC-Ukraine's article.
