Representatives of German parties and experts reacted skeptically to the outcomes of the trilateral negotiations between Russia, the USA, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on January 23 and 24. However, some in Germany stated there is a "small glimmer of hope."
Representatives of German parties commented on the first trilateral negotiations between representatives of Russia, the USA, and Ukraine, which took place on January 23 and 24 in Abu Dhabi. Most politicians see no progress, but some of them stated there is a "small glimmer of hope." They expressed their opinions on Sunday, January 25.
CDU/CSU Skeptical About the Meeting in Abu Dhabi
"Once again, negotiations on Ukraine have proven fruitless. And once again, it is Russia with its maximalist demands that has hindered real progress. Parallel to the negotiations in Abu Dhabi, Putin is subjecting Ukraine to waves of terrorist attacks against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure," said Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy expert of the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) faction in the Bundestag, as reported by the Rhenische Post. In his opinion, "Putin still wants not a genuine peace, but the capitulation of Ukraine."
Deputy head of the CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag, Norbert Röttgen, called the idea that "negotiations with Putin can achieve something" an "illusion." "Putin wants this war and believes he is on the path to victory," the politician stated. He suggested that the Russian president can no longer stop the war "economically and politically."
"He has completely destroyed his economy. He has double-digit inflation and interest rates. He is dependent on China, and his oil business is not functioning. Can he even return a million soldiers who are currently on the front to society? These unemployed and traumatized people," the politician said in a talk show hosted by Caren Miosga on ARD.
The Greens Also See No Progress in Negotiations
Deputy chair of the Green faction in the Bundestag, Agnieszka Brugger, also stated that the negotiations "have not yet brought any progress." She urged Europe to "put more pressure on Putin and provide Ukraine with greater support and reliable security guarantees."
Vladimir Putin is using the negotiations in Abu Dhabi to find an approach to Donald Trump for a joint deal, believes Sönke Neitzel, a military expert, historian, and professor at the University of Potsdam. "But I see absolutely no signs that Putin thinks he should end the war. A ceasefire can only happen when Putin realizes that he will achieve more through a ceasefire than by continuing the war," the expert noted on ARD.
The Left Party Sees a Glimmer of Hope
More positively reacting to the negotiations was co-chair of the Left Party faction in the Bundestag, Sören Pellmann. "This is a small glimmer of hope; we are talking about constructive negotiations. It is clear that the disagreements are still enormous and seem insurmountable in some respects. But at least negotiations are taking place," the politician noted.
Partly sharing this view is political scientist Daniela Schwarzer. "At first glance, it seems that not much has come out of these negotiations. But the good thing is that another meeting is scheduled for next week. This gives a bit of hope. But I am very skeptical about Putin's willingness," she said on ARD.
