A senior figure within Germany’s largest opposition bloc, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, has cast significant doubt on the prospect of a near-term peace agreement for Ukraine, citing a fundamental divergence in objectives between Russia and Western negotiating positions. Jürgen Hardt, the group’s spokesperson for foreign policy, expressed skepticism during an interview with RBB-Inforadio on Monday, indicating a belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not genuinely committed to a negotiated resolution.
Hardt’s assessment paints a bleak picture, arguing that Putin appears to believe a military victory in Ukraine remains attainable. This conviction, he suggested, is designed to manipulate both the United States and European nations, essentially stalling for time while pursuing continued military gains.
Critically, Hardt rejected the notion that current peace proposals, developed in collaboration with the US and Ukraine, are likely to satisfy Moscow. He emphasized that even concessions deemed substantial – potentially including territorial gains for Russia – would be dismissed by Putin as inadequate. “All proposals.will be considered insufficient by Putin” he stated, revealing a frustration with the perceived intransigence of the Kremlin.
The politician’s comments directly challenge the optimism surrounding potential diplomatic breakthroughs following a recent initiative originating from Berlin. Hardt explicitly stated his fear that a peace settlement based on that specific framework is now unlikely, raising concerns about the ongoing trajectory of the conflict and the increasingly difficult path towards a sustainable resolution. The implications for European security, given a potential Russian victory, could be profoundly negative, reinforcing the need for continued and robust support for Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
