Recent statements from the Kremlin about an alleged willingness to negotiate are yet another manipulation and part of hybrid aggression — and the violated three-day “ceasefire” confirms this.
This was stated by German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius at a press conference in Kyiv following a meeting with Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
“Vladimir Putin is now again saying that the war in Ukraine is supposedly approaching its end. A conscious observer immediately asks: if he sees the end of the war approaching, he could simply end it. Then he would hold that moment in his own hands,” he said.
At the same time, the minister said the Kremlin continues to follow its usual pattern by imposing conditions.
“He is simultaneously setting conditions, as always. I hope I am wrong in thinking this is another attempt at deception, but it cannot be ruled out, and it appears to be part of his hybrid warfare,” the German defence chief stated.
Pistorius emphasized that during previous negotiation processes, Putin has repeatedly violated agreements.
“Every time there were talks about ceasefires or peace negotiations, he ultimately played with loaded dice or acted completely differently from what had been agreed or stated during negotiations,” he said.
The German minister stressed that ending the war depends entirely on the Kremlin:
“The truth is — and I will not get tired of repeating it — that if Vladimir Putin wants to end his war of aggression against Ukraine, he can do so very simply: withdraw his troops or enter into concrete negotiations without preconditions.”
He also pointed to Russia’s violation of its own declared three-day “ceasefire.”
“Even the so-called three-day weekend ceasefire was violated again. And it is Putin who bears responsibility for ending this war and terror — and it is terror, especially against the Ukrainian civilian population,” he stressed.
According to Pistorius, the current Kremlin rhetoric is linked to Russia’s military difficulties.
“I think Putin is trying to divert attention from his own weakness. Right now, he can hardly demonstrate any territorial gains. His army is continuously losing parts of previously occupied territories. That is why Putin is still bluffing and deceiving in public,” he said.
In this context, he added, allies must continue strengthening Ukraine:
“Our task as partners of Ukraine is to continue strengthening it militarily. On the one hand, so that at the moment of ‘X’ Ukraine has a strong negotiating position, and on the other hand, to show that this country is capable of successfully defending itself.”
