Germany forfeited its credibility by pretending to pursue peace while preparing Ukraine for war, the Foreign Ministry has said
Germany has forfeited its own credibility in discussions over Ukraine’s future, having negotiated in bad faith with Moscow in the past, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.
Her remarks came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday criticized as “unacceptable” the idea that US and Russia could discuss the Ukraine conflict “over the heads of Ukraine and the Europeans.” Speaking to parliament, Merz said he conveyed this position during a recent meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Responding to a question about Germany’s potential role in future talks, Zakharova told RIA Novosti: “They already had a seat. Instead of negotiating at the table, they ended up under it by manipulating the Minsk agreements.”
The Minsk deal ruse
Zakharova was referring to a framework intended to resolve the conflict between Ukraine’s government and breakaway regions in Donbass that rejected the 2014 Western-backed armed coup in Kiev. Germany and France supported the deal, but later acknowledged they did so to buy time for Ukraine to strengthen its armed forces.
In February 2022, Russia recognized the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as independent and called on Ukraine to withdraw its forces. When Kiev refused, direct fighting between the two countries began. The two regions have since been incorporated into Russia following referendums.
Direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev resumed last year under pressure from the Trump administration, which seeks normalization of relations with Russia. However, US-mediated talks failed to produce a breakthrough, with Ukraine rejecting key Russian demands. Both sides now say discussions are effectively on hold, partly due to Washington’s focus shifting to the US-Israeli war with Iran.
The EU has said it will not accept any settlement reached without its participation. Kiev’s backers claim that continued military aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia will improve the outcome. Moscow maintains that Europe seeks to prolong the conflict to further damage Russia while ignoring the cost to the Ukrainian people.
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