ruth901
Explosive proposal from MoscowPutin wants ex-Chancellor Schröder as a mediator
Schröder and Putin have known each other for many years.
picture alliance / Chris Emil Janßen | Chris Emil Janssen/IMAGO/ZUMA Press/Collage ntv.de
According to Putin, Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine is coming to an end. The Kremlin boss would like to see former Chancellor Schröder as a mediator for possible negotiations between Moscow and Brussels. A meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky is only an option for Putin under one condition.
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is coming to an end. In Moscow, Putin also brought up former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a possible mediator for talks between Russia and the European Union.
“I believe that the matter is coming to an end,” Putin said at an extraordinary press conference after the victory parade marking the end of World War II, with a view to the Ukraine war. He also said that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had told him that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was ready for a personal meeting. “If you want to meet with me, you have to come to Moscow,” Putin said. It was not a direct invitation to Zelensky, but he would also meet with him. “We can also meet somewhere other than Moscow, but only if a long-term peace agreement has been reached beforehand.”
Putin emphasized that a peaceful solution to the conflict is a matter for Ukraine and Russia. “But if anyone would like to help, we would be grateful.” Asked whether he would be willing to hold talks with the Europeans, Putin said his preferred person to mediate was former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. “Of all European politicians, I would prefer talks with Schröder,” said the Kremlin leader. Schröder and Putin are considered close friends. The Russian president accused Europe of wanting to exacerbate the conflict in Ukraine. However, Europe knows “that this game could be expensive”. Ukraine will continue to receive massive support from Europe, especially with technology.
The Kremlin recently said it was up to European governments to take the first step, as they were the ones who cut off contact with Moscow in 2022 after the start of the war in Ukraine. The Financial Times newspaper reported on Thursday that European Union leaders were preparing for possible talks.
When asked, a spokesman for the federal government in Berlin said he did not want to speculate about when the time for talks might be. At the moment, however, it can be seen that Russia and Putin are obviously not interested in serious negotiations. A coordinated European approach and also a coordinated approach with Ukraine will be important.
Sources used: jpe/rts/dpa
