If Russia is not ready to negotiate, “we have to make all efforts to increase the economic pressure on Russia in order to reach the end of this war,” he added.
The British head of government had invited to the virtual meeting, in which the allies Kiev want to advise on the support of Ukraine with a possible ceasefire with Russia. Several heads of state and government, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), are to take part in the video conference. According to London, the consultations are to build up at the Ukraine conference held in the British capital at the beginning of March.
Strander also accused Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin not to have a serious interest in termination of the Ukraine War. It could not be admitted that Putin “drives games” with the agreement proposed by US President Donald Trump, he said, according to the government. “The complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal through the Kremlin only shows that Putin is not serious about peace.” Instead, the Russian President tests “delaying a ceasefire”.
Germany and France, too, had previously criticized Moscow’s attitude to the proposal of a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. “Instead of a clear commitment to peace, there are further rockets, conditions and hold,” said Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) on Friday after a G7 meeting in Charlevoix, Canada.
The French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the “delaying statements” Moscow and asked Russia to consent to the ceasefire proposal. Macron said that after the progress in the negotiations between representatives of the United States and Ukraine on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, he had talks with the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj and Starmer.
Selenskyj described the conversation with Macron in online service X as “productive” and thanked the French president for his support. The two countries continued to work on security guarantees that these would soon be fully developed, the President of Ukraine continued. In view of the reserved reaction from Moscow, Selenskyj Putin accused of not wanting to peace. “Putin cannot be married,” summed up Selenskyj.
As part of a so -called coalition of the willing, France and Great Britain had agreed to secure a possible ceasefire in Ukraine with French and British troops. According to the British government from the beginning of March, around 20 countries are considering participation, including Australia and other Commonwealth countries and European countries.
There was movement in the efforts of a ceasefire after the Ukraine had agreed to the US proposal for a 30-day break after negotiations in Saudi Arabia with the USA on Tuesday. Putin basically supported a ceasefire in Ukraine on Thursday, but he provided conditions. First of all, “serious questions” would have to be clarified for implementation, and an ceasefire “would have to lead to a permanent peace and tackle the deeper causes of this crisis,” he said.
The US specialist Steve Witkoff presented the US proposal in Moscow on Thursday and spoke to Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow said that Putin and Trump could also talk to each other. “All pages agree that such a conversation is needed,” he said.
After the meeting between Witkoff and Putin, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also “carefully optimistic”. It will not be easy to end the war, but “we have at least made a few steps,” he said after a meeting of the G7 Foreign Minister in Canada on Friday. Rubio also warned Russia and Ukraine that the war could not be gained through military means. “The only way to end this war is through a negotiating process,” said the US foreign minister. The negotiations would demand “concessions” from both parties to the conflict. Rubio indicated soon talks between Russia and Ukraine. The two countries “could get together pretty soon”.
