German Foreign Minister: Putin mistaken if he thinks he can play for time
Photo: Johann Wadephul (Getty Images)
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold swift bilateral talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and warned of possible further sanctions, Tagesschau reports.
"If President Putin thinks he can buy time, he is mistaken," Wadephul said during a meeting with his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlić Radman, in Zagreb.
According to the minister, pressure on Russia must continue.
The European Union is already preparing its 19th package of sanctions against the Kremlin to intensify international pressure.
Zelenskyy–Putin meeting
After the Washington summit, US President Donald Trump proposed holding bilateral talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin instead of trilateral negotiations.
According to media reports, the Kremlin suggested Moscow as the venue, but Zelenskyy refused. The White House considered Budapest, but there has been no official confirmation so far.
The Ukrainian President insists that the meeting should take place on neutral ground in Europe - Austria or Switzerland - and does not rule out Türkiye. The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that Putin is ready to meet only if all issues requiring discussion at the highest level are thoroughly worked out.
At present, Ukraine and Russia have not moved closer to holding a summit. The meeting is possible only after the agenda is agreed upon, and Zelenskyy is convinced that the Russian side is doing everything to prevent it from taking place.
Trump does not plan to attend the meeting, noting that it is first necessary to see how the two leaders will work together.
Meanwhile, at its next summit, the European Union will consider the use of revenues from frozen Russian assets and the adoption of the 19th package of anti-Russian sanctions.
