Peace talks in Ukraine may resume: what we know
13 June 09:15
On Friday, June 12, German officials expressed hope that negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine could resume. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing DW.
“A window for diplomacy may gradually open here,” the publication quotes a high-ranking German government official as saying. At the same time, he noted that he was offering his assessment “with due caution,” as it depends on a number of factors.
The dynamics of the war “have changed in recent weeks,” and today Kyiv “is in a new position of strength,” the government representative said, attributing this in particular to support for Ukraine from Germany and all of Europe. Russia, meanwhile, “cannot win militarily,” and its economy is “in decline,” he added. According to him, this situation could create new opportunities for negotiations.
This issue was discussed on June 7 at a meeting between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The leaders of the “Euro-Troika” and Zelenskyy outlined the conditions for achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. According to one of them, after the ceasefire comes into effect, Kyiv must receive legally binding security guarantees, which include the deployment of multinational forces in Ukraine.
Merz: Peace can only be achieved with the help of Europe and the U.S.
On June 11, the German Chancellor, speaking in the Bundestag, stated that peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been ongoing for five years, can only be achieved with the participation of Europe and the United States. Earlier, German government circles had already indicated that a window for potential negotiations between Europeans, Ukrainians, and Russia was “slowly opening.”
On June 4, Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a personal meeting to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. At the same time, the Ukrainian leader stated that Russia’s monthly losses on the front lines exceed 30,000 people killed and seriously wounded. The Kremlin leader rejected bilateral talks and a ceasefire, calling Zelenskyy’s letter “a piece of paper with elements of rudeness.”
Zelenskyy will join the G7 summit, which will take place June 15–17 in the French city of Evian-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva. According to Macron, discussions will focus on restoring consensus within the G7 regarding support for Ukraine and the need for negotiations to end the war.
