Germany sharply commented on negotiations with Russia

Representatives of German parties have commented on the trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the USA, which took place in Abu Dhabi on 23 and 24 January. Most politicians do not see any progress. According to DW, only the Left Party saw a "ray of hope".

Once again the negotiations on Ukraine have proved fruitless. And once again it is Russia that has prevented real progress with its maximalist demands," said Jürgen Hardt, a foreign policy expert of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) faction in the Bundestag.

His words on Sunday, 25 January, cited by the Rheinische Post newspaper.

In parallel with the talks in Abu Dhabi, (Russian President Vladimir - ed.) Putin is subjecting Ukraine to waves of terrorist attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure," he added. According to Hardt, Putin still wants not peace, but the surrender of Ukraine.

Norbert Rettgen, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag, called the view that "negotiations with Putin can achieve something" an "illusion."

Putin wants this war and believes he is on the way to victory," the politician said.

He suggested that the Russian president can no longer stop the war "economically and politically."

He has completely destroyed his economy. He has double-digit inflation and interest rates. He's dependent on China, his oil business is failing. Can he even get the one million soldiers now on the front lines back into society? These unemployed and traumatised people," the politician said on TV presenter Karen Miosga's talk show on ARD TV.

Agnieszka Brugger, deputy chairwoman of the Greens faction in the Bundestag, also said the talks "have not made any progress so far". She called on Europe to push Putin harder and provide Ukraine with more support and solid security guarantees.

Military expert, historian and Potsdam University professor Zenke Neitzel believes Putin is using the Abu Dhabi talks to find an approach to US President Donald Trump for a joint deal.

But I see absolutely no indication that Putin feels as if he has to end the war. A truce is only possible when Putin realises that he will achieve more with a truce than by continuing the war," he said on ARD.

Zehren Pellmann, co-chairman of the Left Party faction in the Bundestag, reacted more positively to the talks.

This is a small ray of hope, we are talking about constructive negotiations. It is clear that the differences are still huge and in some aspects seem insurmountable. But at least negotiations are underway," the politician said.

Political scientist Daniela Schwarzer partially shares this view.

At first glance, it seems that nothing much came out of these negotiations. But the good thing is that another meeting is due in a week. That gives a little bit of hope. But I am very sceptical about Putin's willingness," she told ARD.