Possible peace negotiations yes – a deduction of Russian troops from occupied areas no. Moscow makes its demands on an end to the war. Meanwhile, Europe is trying to find a common course.
In the Saudi Arabian Riyadh, representatives from the United States and Russia want to talk about Ukraine and a possible end of the war of attack. But there is little willingness to compromise on the part of the Kremlin. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrow made it clear that evacuation of the regions of Russia in Ukraine are out of the question. There could be “no thought” of territorial concessions to Ukraine on the part of Russia during possible peace talks, said Lavrow during a press conference in Moscow.
“Which territorial concessions do you want – that we do without the Russian -speaking population or in rare earth,” said Lavrov. “Territorial concessions to what is now called Ukraine were made by the Soviet leadership during the formation of the USSR,” added the Russian Foreign Minister.
Crimean already annexed by Russia in 2014
Lavrow obviously means the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea, which Russia had already annexed in 2014. The Russian Black Sea fleet has always had its base there. In 1954, the then Kremlin boss Nikita Khrushchev spoke to Ukraine, who remained part of the Soviet Union after 1945. Ukraine achieved its independence in the course of the decay of the Soviet Union in 1991 – the Crimea remained part of the country.
In addition, in September 2022, Russia declared annexed areas in the East and South Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Saporischschja and Cherson for annexed a good six months after the start of his large-scale invasion of his neighboring country. Ukraine and numerous western states have described this as violent and absurd.
Rare earth in Donbass
Luhansk and Donetsk together form the Donbass, which is characterized by heavy industry and coal mining. There are also occurrences of coveted rare earths that are required for the production of cell phones and computers, among other things. Russia has been under control of these occurrences since 2014. At that time, a war began between the regular Ukrainian army and separatists who were supported by Russia. Russia argues both in the case of the Crimea and the other annexed areas that the Russian -speaking population there must protect.
Lavrov against participation of the EU
Lavrow also sees no place for the European Union in possible peace talks. “I don't know what to look for at the negotiating table,” said Lawrow, given the EU's claims, to be involved in the talks. In the past, Europeans had been involved in negotiations several times without contributing to a solution.
Meeting in Riad to Ukraine
Lavrow and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio want to talk about possible ways to a peace agreement in the war against Ukraine. In addition, it should be about preparatory discussions about a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, as Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow announced. The restoration of an entire complex bilateral relationships between the USA and Russia is also on the agenda.
According to Peskow, Putin's foreign policy consultant should also be part of the Russian delegation. US Secretary of State Rubio is accompanied by the national security advisor Mike Waltz and the US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
Course change from the United States causes unrest
After a longer phone call to Putin, Trump announced a change of course in relation to the US Ukraine policy last Wednesday. Unterscenters should start talks about the end of the fights, said Trump, and his Defense Minister Pete Hegseth made Ukraine to expect a loss of currently Russian territory.
The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, as well as European allies, demanded that the government in Kiev had to be involved in any discussions about Ukraine. Selenskyj arrived in the United Arab Emirates adjoining Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening. A specific reason for his visit was not mentioned.
According to Minister of Economic Affairs Julia Swyrydenko, a Ukrainian delegation also traveled to Saudi Arabia to prepare a possible visit to Selenskyj. She wrote on Facebook of preparatory discussions about economic agreements with countries in the region. She did not establish a connection to the negotiations between the United States and Russia.
In Paris, a special summit for war against Ukraine takes place in Paris. The focus is on what Europeans can contribute to a possible peace agreement. There were statements about a possible peacekeeping troop in advance that could be stationed in Ukraine after the war ended. Great Britain and Sweden signaled openness to send soldiers for such a project.
Scholz considers debate about peacekeeping
Chancellor Scholz, however, presses the brake on the subject. He considers the debate about the participation of Bundeswehr soldiers in a possible peace -safe commitment in Ukraine to be premature. “It is very important that we make it clear, unfortunately we are far from being,” said Scholz on Monday on the edge of an election campaign event in Kassel.
The question is now about how peace can be guaranteed without the heads of the Ukrainians to be decided. “It is very clear to me that the focus has to be on a very strong Ukrainian army, even in peace,” said Scholz. “It will be a big task for Europe, the USA and international alliance partners.” It is clear that as long as war prevails, it will not be about European troops in Ukraine. “And the questions that are then discussed are the security architecture that are loosened when it is so far.”
