Germany considers possible negotiations between Ukraine and Europe with Russia 0 8

The German government believes that negotiations between Europeans and Ukrainians with Russia may be possible in the future. "A window for negotiations between the European side and Russia is slowly opening," government circles in Berlin stated on Wednesday, June 3. At the same time, they noted that "the fierce fighting of recent days shows that this will take not weeks, but months."

The assessment was prompted by Ukraine's military successes in recent weeks, achieved despite the escalation of Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities.

In Berlin, it is acknowledged that there is currently no clarity on who could lead such negotiations. According to representatives of government circles, a maximally capable format is needed, which would also be perceived as legitimate by Europeans. "There are grounds to believe that the E3 format will continue to play an important role in this," they noted in Berlin. Within this format, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have been actively coordinating foreign policy positions in recent months.

Germany's Position

For the German government, it is fundamentally important that negotiations proceed with a clear political compass and a clear target orientation - in agreement with Ukraine, as well as in extremely close coordination with European partners and the United States. "Nothing without Ukraine, no special paths for Germany" - this is the stance of the government and Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

At the same time, negotiations should not create competition with the United States, which must remain involved in the process, Berlin emphasizes. Meanwhile, the White House announced a temporary halt to its own mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine due to their ineffectiveness.

Changed Context

Ukraine's territorial successes in areas occupied by Russia, ongoing Ukrainian airstrikes on military facilities and oil enterprises in the Russian rear, as well as evidence of increasing problems in the Russian economy, have changed the discussion in recent weeks.

Signals have also come from Moscow about a willingness to allow Europeans into the negotiation process. However, proposals for mediation, particularly from former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, have already been rejected in German government circles.

Unlike the United States, Europeans unequivocally support Ukraine, which was attacked in 2022, and have just approved a loan of 90 billion euros to Kyiv.