Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany, Oleksij Makejew, has sharply criticized Western approaches to potential peace negotiations with Russia, accusing allies of insufficient support and dangerously echoing patterns of past failures. In an interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), Makejew expressed Kyiv’s readiness for genuine ceasefires and negotiations toward a lasting peace, but emphasized the necessity of strong, allied support rather than perceived neutrality.
“We need allies, not allegedly neutral mediators who support Moscow and who negotiate with us from a position of strength” Makejew stated, directly challenging the prevalent discourse surrounding potential talks. He reiterated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s April 2024 offer for a ceasefire and continuing negotiations in any format, underscoring a willingness to engage while demanding a fundamental shift in Western strategy.
Makejew forcefully rejected the increasingly common German proposal to “freeze” the conflict, dismissing it as a misguided repetition of past errors. He drew a pointed comparison to the 2015 Minsk agreements, which he argued ultimately proved disastrous, leading to the intensification of the war. “Russia’s imperial delusion cannot be frozen, only one’s own convictions and values” he asserted.
The diplomat further alleged that the Minsk agreements’ failure stemmed from a Western reluctance to confront Russian aggression decisively. He accused Western powers of prioritizing a façade of unity while applying pressure on Ukraine to concede ground, effectively masking their own weaknesses and unwillingness to take a firm stance against Moscow. “They wanted to cover up their own weakness and indecision” Makejew observed. At the time, Ukraine was pressured into significant concessions while Russia faced no binding demands. He warned that attempts to repackage this flawed approach – a freeze, pressure on Ukraine and illusory promises – represent a dangerous recurrence.
The Ambassador’s remarks come in direct response to comments from German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius, who suggested that negotiations based on current frontlines did not signify a recognition of Ukrainian territorial concessions, but rather a form of conflict stagnation. Makejew characterized such proposals as “moral self-absolution at the expense of those who die every day for freedom and security in Europe” leveling a potent accusation against Western nations perceived as prioritizing political expediency over tangible support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. His criticisms highlight a growing rift between Kyiv’s strategic aims and the perceived limitations of Western engagement in the conflict.
