Scholz's party starts talking about negotiations with Russia after exchange of prisoners
Photo: Saskia Esken, leader of the SPD (Flickr by PES Communications)
The prisoner exchange between Russia, Germany, and the United States suggests that negotiations with the Russian aggressor are supposedly possible, states leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Saskia Esken, in an interview with NTV.
"This is a significant success for diplomacy, as it has now become possible to release many German and other Western European and Western citizens from prisons in Russia," Esken stated.
At the same time, the official noted that the decision to release killer Vadim Krasikov was difficult. However, it allowed for the freedom and safety of many people.
"In any case, the agreement shows that negotiations can be held, that it is possible to enter into talks with the Russian state, even with the Russian aggressor, on issues where it also has its interests," the SPD leader believes.
She emphasized that the ultimate goal is to achieve peace. However, this requires creating conditions under which Russia "will be ready to talk."
What preceded
Yesterday, August 1, Germany, the US, and Russia conducted a major prisoner exchange. During this process, Russia succeeded in bringing back FSB killer Vadim Krasikov, as well as agents from the Main Intelligence Directorate and other spies.
In return, the US received Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, and others.
According to Reuters, negotiations between Russia and the West regarding the prisoner exchange lasted for two years.
For more details on the exchange, see the RBC-Ukraine material.
