Kremlin's Position: Why Europe Cannot Be Neutral
During a meeting with foreign journalists in St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin articulated Russia's tough stance regarding the European Union's participation in peace negotiations. The head of state categorically rejected the possibility of EU countries acting as mediators in resolving the conflict.
The main argument of the Russian leader is the lack of neutrality among European partners. Putin emphasized that European Union states themselves supply weapons to Ukraine, being in a state of armed confrontation with Russia. According to him, mediation by definition requires impartiality, which a party directly helping the opponent cannot possess.
Europe's Role and the Figure of Schröder
Instead of participating in negotiations, Vladimir Putin defined a different task for European countries. In his opinion, their role should be limited to persuading Kyiv to make compromises. Putin also expressed willingness to consider the candidacy of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a possible representative of Europe.
Commenting on Schröder's personality, the Russian leader noted that he is not his personal friend, but called him one of the best German statesmen. This statement became a repeated mention of the ex-chancellor's name in the context of potential negotiations.
Kyiv's Reaction and Moscow's Conditions
Against the backdrop of Putin's statements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a direct meeting with the Russian leader. Zelenskyy proposed setting a specific date for negotiations, in which representatives of both Europe and the US should participate.
In response, Vladimir Putin voiced his "formula for peace." He declared readiness for negotiations but set a strict condition: they must be based on agreements reached with Donald Trump in Alaska.
Military Context and Incidents in St. Petersburg
The head of state's speech took place against the backdrop of a tense military situation. Earlier, Putin acknowledged a Russian missile strike on occupied Donbas, calling it "important," although initially the incident was attempted to be presented as planned tests rather than the loss of an ordnance item.
Separately, threats were voiced against the so-called "Oreshnik." Putin also boasted about the effectiveness of the Russian air defense system, stating that Ukraine has no analogues. The irony of the situation was that on the same day he spoke in St. Petersburg, Ukrainian drones attacked the city.