Three strategies to bring Putin to negotiating table, Ishinger describes
Photo: Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
There are several ways to push Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin toward peace talks with Ukraine. One of them is restoring US weapons supplies to Ukraine and imposing sanctions, says Wolfgang Ischinger, longtime chairman of the Munich Security Conference, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
According to him, three things must happen for Russia to agree to peace negotiations. Washington's hopes that the Kremlin might come to the table because of economic benefits are, in his view, deliberate self-deception — and that approach will not work.
"They should, in my view, restart delivering weapons, restart the weapons program, and, of course, enact the sanctions which have been prepared, the sanctions package which has been prepared in the US Senate," Ischinger said.
He also added that another tool of pressure on Moscow is Ukraine's access to profits from frozen Russian assets.
"I think that intelligent people are capable of finding legally acceptable and financially beneficial ways to give these funds to Ukraine," he added.
Another way to push Putin toward peace talks, according to Ischinger, is to provide Kyiv with reliable security guarantees.
"The third element is the security guarantee, strengthening the Ukraine element, which I label the 'porcupine strategy,'" he stressed.
At the same time, Ischinger considers discussions about NATO troops being stationed in Ukraine premature, since that would obviously provoke significant backlash from Russia.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine
As is known, Ukraine and Russia have held several rounds of talks in Istanbul, for example, this July. However, they were at the delegation level, and no consensus on peace was reached.
Regarding a possible meeting between Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian side remains open to it, but Moscow continues to look for reasons to avoid negotiations.
For now, the prospect of a Zelenskyy–Putin summit seems doubtful, while the United States is ready to act as a third party in peace talks.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
Recently, over 30 representatives from EU and non-EU countries met in Paris to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy shared the results of this meeting, saying that foreign countries are ready to send thousands of their troops to Ukraine.
In addition, security guarantees include strengthening Ukraine’s defense through weapons supplies.
US sanctions against Russia
As for Washington's sanctions against Russia, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the issue will be decided by Trump, and no date will be announced yet.
Rubio also urged Europe to introduce the 19th package of sanctions before demanding the same from the United States.
Washington also criticizes the EU for its trade with Russia, particularly regarding energy supplies. Trump is calling for this to end as soon as possible.
