Several states repeatedly call for peace negotiations. But both Russia and Ukraine have so far refused to sit at the same table. An end to the bloody war is not yet in sight. Especially European heads of state publicly emphasize at every opportunity how important it is that Vladimir Putin (70) suffers a crushing defeat in Ukraine.
But behind the scenes, the heads of state are striking a new tone. The West’s military aid to Ukraine is creating an ever-deepering hole in the state’s treasury. It seems that Putin is quite firmly in the saddle in Moscow. According to the Wall Street Journal, more and more countries believe that it is unlikely that Ukraine will be able to recapture Crimea and all occupied territories in the Donbass.
According to the report, three heads of state worked together on a secret plan to end the war: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (42), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64) and French President Emmanuel Macron (45). The plan will be discussed at NATO’s annual meeting in July.
Ukraine needs to get closer to NATO and start negotiations for this
Her proposal: Ukraine should move closer to NATO and benefit from arms and ammunition supplies, as well as security guarantees. This should prevent Russia from attacking the neighboring country again. In return, however, Ukraine must also take a step towards Russia by declaring that it is ready for peace negotiations.
However, one condition was set: NATO would not be obliged to station troops in Ukraine in the event of a future conflict. Kiev would also not be able to benefit from the alliance case, the so-called Article 5, in the event of an attack.
Consultation desirable until the end of the year
Sunak, Scholz and Macron want to leave it to Ukraine to decide when and where to hold peace negotiations. However, an unnamed government official told the Wall Street Journal that the three heads of state want to speed up the process. So they hope that the first talks between the two warring parties will take place this year.
Macron made this clear at the beginning of February during a dinner with Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (45) in the Élysée Palace. The two Western Europeans would have made peace negotiations palatable to the Ukrainian president.
According to various sources, host Macron mainly pushed for diplomacy and drew comparisons to the end of World War II. Even mortal enemies, such as France and Germany once were, would have looked ahead and made peace after Germany’s defeat.
“There’s Nothing to Talk About There”
Although Zelensky is a great leader in the war, Macron continued, eventually he must switch to political statesmanship and make tough decisions and scale back unrealistic demands. According to a French government official, no one seriously believes that Ukraine is capable of retaking Crimea.
“We keep repeating that Russia cannot win. But what does that mean? If the war continues long enough at this intensity, Ukraine’s losses will become unbearable,” the official told the Wall Street Journal.
At the moment, however, it seems unlikely that Zelensky is in good spirits in peace negotiations. As recently as Friday, he said that before the Russian invasion, he had called on world leaders to bring him and Putin together. But because Putin rejected it from the start, nothing ever came of it. By the time Moscow was ready to meet, it was too late for Kiev.
“Now it’s us who can’t,” says Selenski. “There’s nothing to talk about there and no one to talk about.”
At the request of the Wall Street Journal, the German, French and British governments declined to comment on the peace plans. (ceded)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
