Negotiations to end the war may begin soon — Wadeful
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful stated that negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine could begin in the near future. He called on Europe not to remain on the sidelines of this process and stated that any agreements must be approved by Ukraine. At the same time, Wadeful emphasized that European security must now be built with the threat from Russia in mind.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadepuhl stated that negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine could begin very soon. He made these remarks on September 29 in Strasbourg while answering questions from members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. On that day, Wadeful addressed a PACE session during his visit to the Council of Europe.
According to the German minister, there are now signs that the diplomatic process may enter a new phase. “There are now signs that such negotiations may begin soon,” said Wadeful.
He also stated that Europe needs to decide right now what its future relations with Russia will be. To this end, in his view, European countries should participate in the negotiations rather than wait for other states alone to determine the terms of the agreement. The minister particularly emphasized the role of the U.S. He urged that a situation be avoided in which Washington would effectively have a monopoly on negotiations to end the war. “We must not allow the U.S. to retain a monopoly on the negotiations. We must participate in them. After all, the war is being fought on European soil,” Wadepful stated.
At the same time, he emphasized a position that is fundamental for Germany: decisions regarding Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine itself. “Any agreements” on ending the war, he said, must first and foremost be approved by the Ukrainian side.
This is consistent with Berlin’s previously stated position. The German Foreign Ministry has explicitly stated that it does not conduct negotiations regarding Ukraine without Ukraine and will continue to support Kyiv in defending itself against Russian aggression.
As early as September 23, Wadepful addressed the UN Security Council and called for a return to serious negotiations based on international law. In his view, this process should lead to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. At the same time, he emphasized that Ukraine has long been ready for negotiations, while Russia, he said, continues to refuse them.
What Wadeful Says About Russia
The German foreign minister did not, however, speak of a rapid return to normal relations with Moscow. He noted that Germany has no grievances against the Russian people or Russia as a state. Berlin sees the problem as lying with the current Russian leadership and its policies. “We have no grievances against Russia itself or the Russian people. We have a serious problem with the current Russian regime, which has unleashed and is waging this illegal, aggressive war,” Wadeful said.
According to him, Europe may be able to build normal relations with Russia in the future. But for now, the minister emphasized, it is too early to talk about a return to the former security model. “At present, and likely in the near future, European security must be built not together with Russia, but against Russia,” said Wadepul. He also called on European countries to strengthen their own defense capabilities and act jointly within NATO and the European Union.
Why Are Negotiations Being Discussed Again Now?
Wadeful’s statement came after several important diplomatic meetings. On September 26 in New York, he held his first bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov since the start of the full-scale invasion. The meeting lasted about 20 minutes. Afterward, Wadepful stated that Germany had insisted on de-escalation and continued to demand that Russia take steps to end the war.
Following this conversation, the German Foreign Ministry emphasized that Berlin’s position had not changed. It stated that Germany would continue to support Ukraine, would not conduct negotiations regarding Ukraine without Ukraine’s participation, and would maintain economic pressure on Russia. At the same time, Wadeful himself had spoken about the need for diplomatic contacts even before the PACE session. Before his trip to New York, he called on Russia to engage in serious negotiations and noted that the international community should seize every opportunity to find at least small steps toward ending the war.
Against this backdrop, the current statement in Strasbourg signals that Berlin anticipates new diplomatic contacts. However, Wadeful did not specify a date for the start of negotiations nor did he indicate exactly which parties would be involved. It is also important to note that the mere possibility of negotiations does not imply an agreement to end the war. As of now, serious disagreements remain between Ukraine, Russia, and its partners regarding the terms for ending hostilities.
Therefore, Wadeful’s remarks should be viewed precisely as an assessment of the diplomatic situation, rather than as an announcement of a new round of negotiations that has already been agreed upon. At present, the German government is speaking of Europe’s readiness to join the process and of the need for Ukraine to remain a direct party to any future agreements. This is reported by DW.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated in Berlin that, in his opinion, the Russian Federation’s—the aggressor state’s—subsequent reaction to the meeting of foreign ministers indicates its lack of interest in serious negotiations at this time.
