Germany expects Ukraine-Russia peace talks to start soon, minister says
Photo: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Germany expects talks on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine to begin "soon" and wants to take part in them, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, DW reports.
Germany expects peace talks
Wadephul urged "preventing the US from maintaining a monopoly on conducting negotiations" to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
"We must take part in them. After all, the war is taking place on European soil," the minister said.
He added that Europeans need to determine the future format of their relations with Russia. To do this, they need to sit down at the negotiating table.
According to the minister, "there are now signs that such talks could begin soon."
At the same time, he said he believes that any agreements on ending the war must first be approved by Ukraine.
Relations with Russia
Wadephul says it is quite possible that Europe will be able to build good relations with Russia in the future.
"We have no grievances against Russia itself or the Russian people. We have a serious problem with the current Russian regime, which launched and is waging this illegal war of aggression," the minister said.
Therefore, Wadephul believes that "for now and probably in the near future, European security must be built not together with Russia, but against Russia."
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that the US has not abandoned the idea of a trilateral meeting with representatives of Ukraine and Russia to reach an energy ceasefire. The meeting could take place in Abu Dhabi.
In addition, Trump’s envoy John Coale is working on a deal to exchange Russian political prisoners for US sanctions relief.
