To halt the conflict with Russia, German politician Michael Kretschmer has encouraged Ukraine to give up land “temporarily.”
According to Kretschmer, the 23-month war needs an end, who urged that Kyiv think about freezing the borders as a truce price. A weakening of Russia’s position “lays the groundwork for additional confrontations,” he said, adding that Russia is a dangerous and unpredictable neighbor to Germany.
Oleh Nikolenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian foreign ministry, strongly condemned Kretschmer’s comments, saying that Russia would “inevitably lead to additional aggression” if it accepted any territorial loss. He warned that Russian forces would draw nearer to Germany, namely Saxony if Ukraine suffered a brief loss of territory. Russian aggression, prompted by territorial concessions, will undoubtedly extend beyond Ukraine’s borders. Defeating Moscow is crucial for achieving peace in Europe.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reaffirmed Germany’s unwavering support for Ukraine. Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia are Ukrainian oblasts that are still in a state of split authority due to the ongoing conflict and Putin’s announcement of their annexation last year. According to news reports on Saturday, Putin has reportedly signaled via diplomatic back channels his willingness to stop the conflict with borders stuck in their existing places, and he is “ready to reach a deal” for a truce.
The Ukrainian government has repeatedly stated its determination to ensure that no part of its land remains under Russian control. The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has made it clear time and time again that the conflict will continue until the reunification of Crimea, which Moscow unlawfully seized in 2014.
Allegations that Berlin is secretly pressing Kyiv to sign a peace treaty with Russia were denied by the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany.
According to Scholz and other Western leaders, the timing and terms of any peace settlement between Kyiv and Moscow are matters solely for Kyiv to choose.
